The last three World Cup finals have been played against the backdrop of a samba beat in the stands, with a bemusing 3-0 defeat to hosts France in 1998 sandwiched by successes against Italy on penalties in 1994 and a 2-0 win over Germany in 2002. The unexpected 1998 failure was notable for the controversy surrounding star striker Ronaldo, who played in the game despite suffering a convulsive fit on the eve of the match. However, Ronaldo bounced back from his ignominious end to the 1998 tournament. With a daft haircut and an unerring eye for goal, he fired Brazil to World Cup glory at the South Korea/Japan tournament with both goals in the final, taking his tournament tally to eight.

Ronaldo, a three-time FIFA World Player of the Year, is the latest in a long line of Brazilian forwards who have been integral to the national team's attack focused style. It would be grossly unjust to suggest the Real Madrid striker was the stand-out performer of Brazil's campaign, even if he was the match-winner in the final and the competition's top goalscorer.

For Ronaldo was merely one member of a frighteningly sharp attacking trio, which also comprised Rivaldo and current FIFA World Player of the Year Ronaldinho. Ronaldo may have been the cutting edge, but Rivaldo and Ronaldinho's wonderfully inventive darts into opposition territory left even the best organised defences flummoxed.

A footballing history lesson would suggest that Brazil's strategy in 2002 was anything but new. But the then coaches of Germany, Turkey, England, Belgium, Costa Rica and China - teams that collectively conceded 18 goals against the World Cup winners in 2002 - will admit that it is anything but easy to stop history being repeated when Brazil are involved.

Over the past four decades, when they have been at their most brilliant, Brazil have inevitably adopted the use of awesome attacking triumvirates.

In 1970, the famous Brazil team that thrashed Italy 4-1 in a memorable final was centred around the striking ability of Pele, Jairzinho and Tostão. The team goal to end all team goals, scored by captain Carlos Alberto in the closing stages of that famous final in Mexico City, was a benchmark of footballing excellence that many observers feel has not been matched since.

Fast forward 12 years, and arguably an even better attacking threesome was denied football's top prize by the perennial Achilles heel that is Brazil's defence. The brilliant Zico, along with Sócrates and Falcão, were left despondent when eventual winners Italy knocked them out in the second round with a surprise 3-2 victory.

It took 24 years for Brazil to land the top prize after their 1970 success, but Bebeto and Romario led the forward line as the drought was finally ended against Italy in the final. It was hardly a thrilling game though - or even a thrilling team, relative to the great Brazilian sides of the past.