WINNING GAMES ON THE DEFENSIVE END ITALY, FRANCE SET UP A WALL TOUGH TO PENETRATE.

Byline: SCOTT FRENCH Staff Writer

BURG, Germany -- Lilian Thuram wasn't going to change his mind. Raymond Domenech wasn't going to take no for an answer.

France's World Cup hopes were hanging on by a thin thread last fall when Thuram, a pedigreed defender who had played huge roles in the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship triumphs, got the call.

He had retired from the national team following disappointments in 2002 and 2004, fed up with a lack of team discipline and unity.

Domenech, who had taken charge of the French team after the Euro 2004 failure -- which had followed the 2002 World Cup debacle -- had lured midfielders Zinedine Zidane and Claude Makelele out of international retirement, but he needed Thuram to anchor his backline.

``I'd taken my decision,'' Thuram said, ``and I thought it must be respected.''

No chance. Domenech, looking to survive a tricky qualifying campaign -- but also looking ahead to this summer's possibilities -- told the veteran he would be called up ``against your will,'' forcing Thuram to decline publicly.

Thuram laughed when he was told.

``I didn't have the strength to fight him,'' he said. ``And the French team had given me so much, and if I can be of service ... but I said: `Maybe if you call me back (to the team), I will behave badly.' He called me anyway.''

It was one of the pivotal moments in France's run to its second World Cup final. Domenech, whose Bleus take on Italy in Sunday's title game at Berlin's Olympiastadion, knew the opportunity to contend for another championship would depend most heavily on how secure things were at the back. He was lacking first-class central defenders, and the regal Thuram was one of the world's best.

It proved an inspired decision. Thuram, 34, has been virtually flawless as the focal point of France's superb defense. Teaming in the middle with classy William Gallas, he's led a superior backline for a team that has surrendered just two goals in six Cup games: the odd, high-bouncing equalizer in the draw with South Korea and a penalty kick in the second-round romp over Spain.

Only Italy has been more impressive defensively -- the Azzurri have allowed just one goal, Christian Zaccardo's own goal in the tie with the U.S. -- and most of the credit goes to Fabio Cannavaro, Thuram's central partner at beleaguered Italian giant Juventus.

Close friends and longtime teammates, at Parma before Juve, Thuram and Cannavaro, 32, are the key figures for the final, which promises to be tense and low-scoring. They're both outstanding leaders who utilize intelligence, positioning, anticipation and clinical tackling to shut down opponents.

Both have made news off the field -- Cannavaro regaled reporters with tales of his sex life, saying that ``eating well, getting plenty of sleep and having sex (is) important,'' and Thuram battled right-wing politician Jean-Marie Le Pen, who complained there were ``too many players of color'' on the French roster -- but their impacts have been far greater on it.

Cannavaro, Italy's captain, has emerged as the best bet for the Golden Ball, the World Cup's MVP award, if the Azzurri claim their fourth championship. Small for a defender -- just 5-foot-8, 175 pounds -- the Naples-born veteran possesses considerable speed, strength and grit to dominate bigger foes.

He's held together a backline that has been torn by injury -- first to Gianluca Zambrotta, then to central partner Alessandro Nesta -- and led a team reeling from the ``Calciopoli'' match-fixing scandal that threatens to force more than half the players into lower-division soccer this season.

Nesta's groin injury, which will keep him from the final, has forced Cannavaro to switch partners nearly every game. Marco Materazzi, a tough, sometimes brutal tackler, stepped in when Nesta was hurt against the Czech Republic, but he was red-carded against Australia, and inexperienced Andrea Barzagli stepped into the lineup against Ukraine. Materazzi returned against Germany.

The manuevering didn't impair the Italians. Cannavaro, considered among the world's best defenders since a solid showing at the World Cup eight years ago, has been phenomenal, easily the best defensive player in Germany.

Said goalkeeper Gianluigi Bufffon: ``In front of me there is an unbreachable wall.''

Cannavaro, a suitable successor to legends Giacento Facchetti, Giuseppe Bergomi, Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini, will make his 100th international appearance Sunday -- only Maldini and Dino Zoff, among Italians, have more ``caps.''

Italy also has benefited from the performances of outside backs Gianluca Zambrotta, superb all tournament, and attack-happy Fabio Grosso. Gennaro Gattuso sets the tone for the Azzurri in midfield.

Thuram, who broke Marcel Desailly's French ``caps'' record during the tournament and has 120, has formed a fine partnership with Gallas, who had been an outside back for France before the Cup.

Eric Abidal, who calls Thuram ``my idol,'' has emerged as a force at left back, and Willy Sagnol has been among the tournament's best attacking right backs. Makelele and Patrick Vieira are the most important defenders in midfield.

Vieira credits Thuram. ``When you see Lilian defending as he has,'' he said, ``you feel you are indestructable.''

No matter -- Thuram is finished, at least internationally, after Sunday's game. This time, he promises, he won't return.

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CAPTION(S):

9 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1 -- color) France's Lilian Thurman, left, has been one of the top defenders in this year's World Cup.

Nicolas Asfouri/Getty Images

(2) Lilian Thuram

(3) William Gallas

(4) Eric Abidal

(5) Gianluca Zambrotta

(6) Fabio Cannavaro

(7) Marco Materazzi

(8) Fabio Grosso

(9) Willy Sagnol

Box:

(1) ON THE DEFENSIVE

(2) WORLD CUP SCHEDULE