Argentine referee Elizondo ready for final.

Record-breaking Argentine referee Horacio Elizondo is likely to be the most important and controversial man on the pitch in Sunday's World Cup final between Italy and France. The 42-year-old physical education teacher, who is the first Argentine official to handle the showpiece game, has flashed 22 yellow cards and shown his red twice in four games, three of which have ended in uproar.

The law of averages suggests he is likely to book at least five players --- and there is a 50-50 chance of a sending off. He is a keen poet and golfer and may need those refuges for reflection if he oversees more discord at the Olympic Stadium. He will be the first referee to control the opening match and the final and only the second to handle five matches at a World Cup. Mexican lawyer Benito Archundia, who refereed the Germany-Italy semi-final, was the first.

Elizondo, who speaks Spanish and English, but not French or Italian, is one of South America's most experienced and respected officials, but he has incurred the wrath of players and supporters from Ghana, South Korea and England. His handling of the opening fixture between hosts Germany and Costa Rica was a masterpiece of control and restraint -- with only one caution -- but Czech Republic's clash with Ghana in Group E was a very different story. Seven players were booked and one, Czech Tomas Ujfalusi, was sent off for a foul that led to Ghana being awarded a penalty.

So everything is aok on the refereeing front. Now all it takes for us is to stay awake, watch and cheer at the magic that must surely exude at the finals. France or Italy, if everything goes well, the winner will also be the beautiful game.