The game was 75 minutes old when Lukas Podolski began his run from midway inside Italy’s half; Miroslav Klose was following to the right and there was a goal in the making. Fabio Cannavaro picked him up early in his run and tracked him all the way, crowding him so that the young German couldn’t pass to his fellow striker. Just as they reached the goalline Cannavaro swooped and took the ball away like a lollipop from a child.

Italy are in the finals having conceded just one goal in the entire tournament; much of the credit for that goes to their understated, yet hugely influential — and inspirational — captain. Standing 1.75 metres in his socks, Cannavaro was between 5 and 20 cm shorter than his opponents yesterday yet nothing went past him - neither on the ground nor, thanks to his timing, in the air.

Timing is one part of Cannavaro’s game; when clubbed with a keen positional sense and tactical awareness, he is near unbeatable.

And his economy of effort — like the best defenders, he is inconspicuous till one looks at the score-sheet — allows him to keep getting better as the match goes on.

On Tuesday Germany, a team not shy of scoring goals, could manage only two shots on goal as against Italy’s 10.

The reason: Cannavaro’s marshalling of the defence. Take some of his tackles yesterday:

14th minute: Blocking a shot from Lukas Podolski that was headed goalwards

16th minute: Dispossessing Klose, who had a free shot at goal

... contd.