The 64th and final match of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil takes place on Sunday, as Argentina and Germany square off in the World Cup final.
Who will be crowned as the new World Champions?
Germany are going for their fourth title, Argentina their third, as two proud soccer nations meet at the world famous Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro in what promises to be a sensational match.
FOLLOW LIVE: Germany vs. Argentina
Lionel Messi leads a well-drilled Argentina, while Germany’s stacked side will go for a team-first approach to overcome their South American rivals.
These sides have met in the 1986 and 1990 finals, Argentina prevailing in ’86 and Germany in ’90, and this is the first-time in history that the same nations have met in three WC finals. Both teams are unchanged from the semifinal wins.
Will Germany and Argentina dish up a fitting finale to what’s been a marvelous tournament in Brazil?
LINEUPS
Germany: Neuer; Lahm, Hummels, Boateng, Höwedes; Schweinsteiger, Khedira; Müller, Kroos, Özil; Klose
Argentina: Romero, Garay, Zabaleta, Biglia, Perez, Higuain, Messi, Mascherano, Demichelis, Rojo, Lavezzi
Talking points
Will Lionel Messi join the greats of the game?
Messi has won just about every trophy ever invented… except for one. The World Cup. If you ask most people, they will say Argentina’s captain is already on a par with Diego Maradona and Pele as a true great of the game. However one small question mark always pops up. what about Messi’s performances for Argentina at the World Cup? Messi… he hasn’t won a World Cup? Messi has scored four times in Brazil this summer and keeps popping up at crucial times to save the Albiceleste. Can Messi be Argentina’s hero on Sunday and become a true soccer god at the Maracana?
Team first over individual talent?
Germany are full of confidence after their 7-1 drubbing of hosts Brazil in the semifinal. They are well-rested and sense that their time has arrived to win their first World Cup since 1990. Above all that, the German players work together and are a well-oiled machine under Joachim Low. With Kroos, Muller, Ozil and Neuer all coming through the ranks together, plus the experience of Lahm, Schweinsteiger and Klose, can they put in one more stunning team performance to overcome Argentina’s individual brilliance?
Expectation
This match should be a tight game, as both teams are extremely well-organized. If someone scores early then this game could open up, as Argentina and Germany possess mercurial attacking talents. However, when Germany and Argentina met in the 1990 final it was a dire match as both nations were too scared to lose in a 1-0 win for Germany. In 1986, Argentina won 3-2 in a pulsating clash. Let’s hope the latter game is replicated at the Maracana.
One blogger’s prediction
It it hard to bet against Germany, especially as their ruthless machine destroyed Brazil and has yet to click out of second-gear (the round of 16 clash against Algeria aside) for most of the tournament. However it just feels scripted that a scrappy Argentina team, led by Lionel Messi and supported by tens of thousands of Argentina fans, is going to win the tournament in the backyard of their biggest rivals Brazil. Tiredness will play a part for Argentina, but I fancy them to bag a 2-1 win and grab their third World Cup title.
