Brazilian fans add color to finals

From Sports Illustrated • Grant Wahl: Inside the media circus • Photo Gallery: Get to know me • Photo Gallery: One that got away Features • 91st Minute: Turks win third, set table for final • Baddoo: Cup fulfills aim of game • Pinto Postcard: Don't doubt Ronaldo • Head2Head: Who will win? • Quiz: Cup final trivia • World Cup Hall of Fame: Top 100 • Scores | Schedules and Standings From Soccer America • Mahoney: Guile, guts carry Brazil • Archive: In Korea/Japan From World Soccer • Cup delivers magic • Transfer rumors From CNN.com • Football fever hits Germany • Special Coverage: CNN.com Europe From Time.com • World Cup Weblog • Full Coverage: Insight from Korea/Japan Multimedia • Photo Gallery: Ticket to Yokohama

YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) -- Brazil is back in the World Cup final and so are the maracas, bikinis, the samba and canary shirts.

As the Brazilians marched on to their third World Cup final in a row, it wasn't only the team's attacking style and big-name stars which added panache and flavor to this year's championship.

Up in the stands, the fans -- as they always do -- heightened the party atmosphere that prevails at the greatest sports event on earth. On Sunday, they readied for the biggest bash of all, and the possibility of an unprecedented fifth championship.

"I'm going to dance and sing all game long," said Veno Elinaldo, a 28-year-old Rio de Janeiro native. "We're going for our fifth title, can you think of any other better reason to party?"

As Brazil -- so far undefeated in this year's World Cup -- shook off a sloppy and disrupting World Cup qualifying campaign that left many fans discouraged, the samba drums returned. So did the bikini bras bearing the Brazilian flag, the midgame hip gyrations by women in carnival-style masks and headdresses.

"I was a bit worried at first about how we'd finish," said Elinaldo. "But after we moved out of the first round, I knew this World Cup was ours." She then kissed her Brazilian jersey.

Hours before the kickoff, Brazilians danced and chanted all over Yokohama, peacefully mingling with German fans.

In front of the stadium, a bikini-clad fan ran throughout the overwhelmed police force, greeted with open arms by the Germans. As dozens of other fans danced on the tarmac, police reinforcements running toward the crowd had to stop in their tracks before regrouping under a tree.

"Party! Party!" Brazil! Brazil! sang Alessandra Pereira, as dozens of Japanese fans held digital cameras high above the thumping beat of a samba band.

Brazilian fever extended beyond the several thousands of Brazilians who have made the monthlong trip.

Thrill of victory, agony of defeat Click the image to launch the clip Brazilian fans rejoice in their fifth World Cup title while German supporters mourn their team's inadequacy in Yokohama. Start Video Plus Visit Video Plus for all the latest video and audio.

The yellow canary jersey -- the majority with Ronaldo's No. 9 on the back -- could be seen all over town, adding a dash of color to an otherwise overcast and cloudy day.

Japanese, Latin, and other fans of the four-time champions decked out in Brazilian headbands, jerseys, and scarves saluted each other. All predicted a close match and, of course, a victory for Brazil.

"It's going to be tight, but I think it will be a 2-1 win for us," said Heliy Garagoza, a Venezuelan who joined dozens of other Latin Americans.

"It's Latin power -- everyone knows we play the best football," said Efren Rueda, a 50-year-old businessman from Caracas, Venezuela, dressed in a Brazil jersey, shorts, and socks.

Rueda switched allegiances in the middle of the tournament, but opted for some Latin American solidarity.

"I was originally rooting for Argentina, but once they were eliminated I jumped on the Brazilian bandwagon. Nobody throws a party like they do," he said. "I was there in France for the finals and I had to be here again."