The balding 32-year-old picked off shot after shot against the relentless Dutch strikers. But he saved the best for last, blocking two attempts in a penalty-kick shootout to send Brazil to the World Cup final against France or Croatia.

There had been one moment more important than this, the '94 World Cup final. And Claudio Taffarel was there, stopping the fourth shot by Daniele Massaro and giving Brazil a record fourth World Cup title and the beginning of sainthood.

In the explosion of relief and joy after the second save, there was a special moment with Zagallo, his mentor, defender and sponsor.

``It made me proud to see him crying and happy,'' Taffarel said. ``He gave me this moment so many times calling me to the team ... He went against many people who didn't want me on the team, and I'm grateful.''

Brazilians tend to love or hate Taffarel, eversince he emerged a decade ago as a phenomenon among goalies. In 1990, at the age of 24, he was a starter on Brazil's World Cup team.

Brazil lost that Cup, and Taffarel began a long slide that reached a low point when he was benched on Italy's Parma. Still, Carlos Alberto Parreira, with Zagallo's backing, called him up for the '94 World Cup.

It was downhill again after that, and Taffarel seemed to be playing out his career on Atletico Mineiro. But Zagallo wanted his experience on the renewed national team he was assembling.

Experience counts, but Taffarel lives only for the next victory. ``Today is an unforgettable day, but we have to forget it,'' he said. ``We havent't won anything yet. It's just one battle. I'm happy to live this moment.''

The veteran Taffarel, who has surpassed the Brazilian record of 16 World Cup ties held by Gilmar and Emerson Leao, has been desperately looking for recognition.

On Sunday, Taffarel will equal Germany's Sepp Maier's World Cup record for goalkeepers by playing his18th finals game. ``In Brazil people are crazy about football. But they dream about wearing a number nine or number ten on their shirt. If you're a goalkeeper you just don't exist,'' he sighs.How many people remember his stop from Italy's Daniele Massaro in the final four years ago or his save from Baggio's volley?

Not as many who remember the goalscoring exploits of Romario and Bebeto, which hogged the headlines. And Taffarel says that's just Brazilian logic.

``In Brazil, only strikers count -- a goalkeeper is bad if he lets in a goal, even if his team has won by six goals.''