France vs Italy: Check these World Cup Final Statistics

Forget Brazil and Germany: It's Italy Against France with World Cup at stake. One flash of inspired genius might be all that separates France and Italy at the end of Sunday's World Cup final which is likely to see the defences of both sides dominate. With the Italians having conceded only one goal, and France conceding just two, the outcome could hinge on a single slip or mistake -- or by one flash of brilliance.

ROAD TO THE FINAL

Italy: Aside from a 1-1 tie with the USA in their second Group E match, the Italians have beaten five opponents by combined scores of 10-0 and reached the final by beating host Germany, 2-0.

France: After stuttering in Group G to finish second behind Switzerland, the French upset Spain 3-1 and then stunned defending champion Brazil 1-0 before knocking off Portugal 1-0 in the semifinals.

NUMBERS GAME

Italy: Ten different players have scored Italy's 11 goals; Luca Toni is the only player with two goals. He led all Europeans in league scoring last season with 31 goals for Fiorentina.. Italy has reached its sixth final: it won the World Cup in 1934, '38, and '82, and finished second in '70 and '94.

France: Thierry Henry leads the French with three goals, Zinedine Zidane has scored twice. Henry was second to Toni; he netted 27 goals for Arsenal. France won the World Cup in 1998; this is just their second appearance in the final. They were beaten semifinalists in 1958 (Brazil) and 1982 and 1986 (West Germany both times).

COACH

Italy: Marcello Lippi, 58. In charge since August of 2004, Lippi won five Serie A titles with Juventus and four times led them to the finals of the Champions League, winning once.

France: Raymond Domenech,. 54. Before taking over the national team in July 2004 he had coached the French under-21 team for 11 years, so he's doing pretty well in his first major competition. France has lost only once during his tenure.

Edge: Italy.

GOALKEEPERS

Italy: Gianluigi Buffon, 32. He and his club Juventus are at the center of a corruption scandal yet he's been rock-solid. Pulled off several strong saves against Ukraine in the round of 16 with the score 1-0 (Italy won 3-0), and twice stopped German attempts to take the lead in the semifinal.

France: Fabien Barthez, 35. Has been his usual superb, erratic self. Got away with several bobbles against Portugal in addition to making two difficult saves. Is sometimes prone to getting caught in traffic coming out for crosses.

Edge: Italy.

DEFENDERS

Italy: Central defender Fabio Cannavaro will celebrate his 100th appearance in the final; his steadiness has forged an almost impenetrable defense despite several changes forced by injuries and suspensions. Both outside backs, Gianluca Zambrotta. and Fabio Grosso, have scored goals.

France: Lilian Thuram, 34, has been spectacular at the heart of the defense alongside William Gallas. They have been almost impossible to best in the air. Left back Eric Abidal. is the least experienced member of the back four with only 13 appearances and right back Willy Sagnol was involved in two goalmouth incidents against Portugal that could have resulted in penalty kicks.

Edge: Italy.

MIDFIELDERS

Italy: Since Lippi went to a 4-5-1 formation, Italy's attacks prompted by Francesco Totti, Mauro Camoranesi. and Andrea Pirlo have been more varied. Gennaro Gattuso is a rugged enforcer.

France: Holding midfielders Patrick Vieira and Claude Makelele. allow the ageless Zidane (34) to prise open the opposition. Vieira dominates in the air and occasionally pushes forward into the attack. Outside midfielders Florent Malouda and Frank Ribery struggled in the semifinal.

Edge: France.

FORWARDS

Italy: Much of Toni's work as a lone striker has led to goals by others, although he netted twice against Ukraine. Vincenzo Iaquinta, Alberto Gilardino and Filippo Inzaghi have all been used effectively and each has one goal.

France: Henry's speed and touch and guile shreds defenses but he failed to exploit several good situations against Portugal. Sylvain Wiltord and Sidney Govou have seen time off the bench in the last two games.

Edge: France.

INTANGIBLES

Italy: Nothing – the match-fixing scandal in Serie A, an own-goal and tie against the USA, injuries and suspensions – has deterred the Italians, who have grown stronger as the opposition as toughened.

France: The French are soaring on momentum and emotions will be boiling as Zidane, a symbol for his nation as well as its team, plays his last game for France.

Edge: Italy.