The line outside the Olympic Stadium told the story: Hundreds of hopefuls looking for a ticket they never thought they would need. A World Cup that has been free of the upsets of four years ago ends on Sunday in a final between two teams who, even two weeks ago, you wouldn’t have bet on.

Yet Italy and France are here, in this city with which both have strong historic links, each defying the odds and the predictions of experts—and even their own fans. ‘‘Big, big mistake,’’ said Simone from Bologna. ‘‘We have no faith in the team but they have the faith in us. Now we cannot get a ticket.’’

He’s certainly right about the last part; tickets are going for around 10 times their face value, and that’s only where they are available. Those who can’t will head for Berlin’s famous ‘Fan mile’, in the shadow of the Brandenburg Gate; more than a million are expected there tomorrow but the party had already begun today.

This is a match even the neutrals would love to see, and who would have said that a month ago? Yet the manner in which Italy and France have confronted, and stared down, their demons, is what sport is all about. Seven of Italy’s starting line-up are with clubs implicated in the match-fixing scandal; whatever happens tomorrow, they will probably have to look for alternative employment back home.

Yet in the past couple of weeks, they have shown us the other side of Serie A, the peerless technique and tactics that make Italian football what it is. Of all the major teams at this World Cup, Italy are the only 100 per cent home-based squad; they simply don’t need to play anywhere else. That technique is best exemplified by Andrea Pirlo, their frail playmaker, and Fabio Cannavaro, their lion-hearted captain.

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