FIFA Leader Troubled By the Lack of Goals

FIFA President Sepp Blatter is worried that this year's World Cup might end up the lowest scoring ever, and he wants to figure out ways to "make football more attractive again."

The 2006 World Cup has seen 2.27 goals per contest so far, just a shade above the record low of 2.21 in 1990. This year's average would dip below that if no goals are scored in tomorrow's third-place game between Germany and Portugal and the France-Italy final on Sunday.

"The football isn't that bad, but there aren't enough goals -- and when there are too few goals, the public isn't very enthusiastic," Blatter told the German news agency DPA. "The essence of the game is goals."

Blatter wants to devise changes that will help attackers break through increasingly sophisticated defenses.

"We will set up a large symposium with the 32 World Cup coaches, the referees, the doctors and the technical study group of the World Cup," Blatter said. "We want to hear what they have to say about what we can do to make football more attractive again."

Ideas might include widening the goals and revamping offside rules. After the low-scoring 1990 World Cup, FIFA reacted by eliminating the pass back to the goalie.

Blatter ruled out one proposal of reducing teams to 10 men to counteract the growing speed and size of defenders. The Brazilian great Socrates has argued that would create space for playmakers such as France's Zinedine Zidane, Germany's Michael Ballack and Italy's Francesco Totti.

Blatter hopes instead that teams will adopt more attacking styles.

"If it's an open game, there is enough room for 11 players," Blatter said, "but with 11 defenders there is not enough space."

Elizondo to Referee Final

Argentine referee Horacio Elizondo, who showed a red card to England's Wayne Rooney in the quarterfinals, will take charge of Sunday's championship match in Berlin.

The 42-year-old will be assisted by compatriots Dario Garcia and Rodolfo Otero. Their appointments were confirmed by FIFA in an e-mailed statement.

Elizondo has refereed four games so far, including England's quarterfinal exit on penalty kicks to Portugal. Rooney was dismissed in that game for violent conduct after stepping on Ricardo Carvalho.

The referee also ejected Czech Republic defender Tomas Ujfalusi and brandished 21 yellow cards during the tournament. His other matches were Germany's 4-2 win over Costa Rica in the tournament opener on June 9, the Czech Republic's 2-0 loss to Ghana on June 17 and Switzerland's 2-0 win over South Korea on June 23.

Injury Sidelines Nesta

Italy defender Alessandro Nesta has been ruled out of the final with a right thigh injury. Nesta has missed Italy's last three matches after aggravating a long-term injury in Italy's 2-0 win over the Czech Republic in the first round.

He has been bothered by the muscle problem on and off for the last couple months.

Also, Germany central defender Per Mertesacker will miss the third-place match after surgery on his left heel.