BERLIN -- There hasn't been one particular player who has grabbed the tournament by the scruff of the neck, but there have plenty of standout performances. Here is Mully's Team of the Tournament.

1. Gianluigi Buffon (Italy, goalkeeper) -- Quite simply the best in the shot-stopping business. Has been beaten just once the entire tournament and that was an own goal.

2. Gianluca Zambrotta (Italy, right back) -- Great attacking outlet, but quick to return to defensive duties.

3. Fabio Grosso (Italy, left back) -- Destroyed German hopes with a magical strike in the epic semifinal. Always an attacking threat, but imposing defender too.

4. Patrick Vieira (France, central midfielder) -- His awesome power cowered Cesc Fabregas of Spain and the whole of Brazil. Returned to form after quiet season with Juventus.

5. Fabio Cannavaro (Italy, central defender) -- The best stopper in the world, extraordinarily powerful and tactically astute. Not so much a good example of catenaccio as its personification.

6. Ricardo Carvalho (Portugal, central defender) -- Elegant defender, good in the air and oh-so-quick on the ground.

7. Franck Ribery (France, midfielder) -- Terrierlike energy, combined with quick feet and nous. Shall give Brazil's Cafu nightmares for years to come.

8. Maniche (Portugal, midfielder) -- Looks overweight, but always an outlet. Never puts a pass astray and scores the odd brilliant goal.

9. Lukas Podolski (Germany, forward) -- From zero to hero. Find of the World Cup, even though he wasn't at his best against Italy.

10. Zinedine Zidane (France, central midfielder) -- Ah, Ronaldinho the best player in the world? Hypnotizes opponents with his close control.

11. Miroslav Klose (Germany, forward) -- Scored a few and made a few. Striker who plays with heart and head.

Substitutes: Argentina's Juan Roman Riquelme, England's Owen Hargreaves, France's Thierry Henry, Spain's Fernando Torres.

Coach: Italy's Marcello Lippi (At this juncture -- before the final -- Lippi's feat in getting his players to concentrate on their football as the firestorm of scandal and tragedy rages at home puts him ahead of France's Raymond Domenech.)

The fact the Team of the Tournament has the Italian goalkeeper and three Italian defenders gives a big hint to the foundations of their success, but Italy has been playing some delightful football, too, with the two late goals against Germany in the semifinal.

For all the talk of Zidane's renaissance and wonderful talent of Henry, the French team's advance to the final has much to do with the presence of veteran Lilian Thuram in the defense.

There will be intriguing matchups throughout the pitch, and it shouldn't be the stalemate many fear.

Lippi showed he can throw caution to the wind in pursuit of the win by finishing the Germany game with four strikers. Domenech also made sure France didn't shut up shop against Portugal by bringing on forwards Sidney Govou and Louis Saha.

There will be goals. Mully's prediction: Italy 3, France 2.