VENUE: Maracana Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. CAPACITY: 78,838. DATE: Sunday 13th July 2014 - 8pm. REFEREE: Marco Rodriguez (Mexico). RESULT: GERMANY 1 ARGENTINA 0 (After Extra Time) This isn’t the Final that FIFA wanted. The flamboyant Brazilians were supposed to be hosting their most fierce rivals Argentina in a South American goal fest. Instead they received a seven goal bashing as Germany pummelled them in the semi-finals to leave the hosts embarrassed and the Germans on the brink of being the first European side to win the World Cup in the Americas. In two previous finals between the teams Argentina won 3-2 in 1986 while Germany won 1-0 in 1990. With an estimated 100,000 Argentinians in Rio, fireworks are guaranteed on the Copacabana tonight! Whatever happens, Germany will compete in a record 8th World Cup Final. ROUTE TO THE FINAL GERMANY Germany 4-0 Portugal Germany 2-2 Ghana Germany 1-0 USA Germany 2-1 Algeria (After extra time) Germany 1-0 France Germany 7-1 Brazil ARGENTINA Argentina 2-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina Argentina 1-0 Iran Argentina 3-2 Nigeria Argentina 1-0 Switzerland (After extra time) Argentina 1-0 Belgium Argentina 0-0 Holland (Argentina won on penalties) POSSIBLE STARTING LINE UPS ---------Germany (4-3-2-1) ---------------Neuer------------------- Lahm, Hummels, Boateng, Howedes --Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Kroos---- ------------Ãzil, Müller---------------- ---------------Klose------------------- ------Lavezzi, Messi, Higuain--------- -----Biglia, Mascherano, Perez------- --Rojo, Garay, Demichelis, Zabaleta- --------------Romero------------------ ......Argentina (4-3-3) [video=youtube;QpDc3HiuTnM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpDc3HiuTnM[/video] Can leading man Thomas Muller become the first player to win back-to-back Golden Boots or will Lionel Messi steal the show and inspire Argentina to a third World Cup triumph? The race to win the GOLDEN BOOT will be an interesting sideshow. This is how it currenly stands with star of the tournament James Rodrigues in pole position: 6 - James Rodriguez (Colombia) 5 – Tomas Mueller (Germany) 4 – Lionel Messi (Argentina) Argentina's Angel Di Maria has returned to light training after a thigh injury, but is unlikely to be fit to start. Striker Sergio Aguero is fully recovered from a similar problem and could replace either Ezequiel Lavezzi or Gonzalo Higuain. Argentina fielded Higuain, Aguero and Lionel Messi as part of a front three earlier on in the tournament. However, they may be reluctant to pick such an attacking line-up against the in-form Germans. Left-back Marcos Rojo failed to complete a training session on Friday because of a sore ankle but the problem is not thought to be serious. Muller is Germany's leading scorer with five goals at this tournament, but Joachim Low's men are anything but a one-man band. A further seven Germans have also scored, and the likes of Miroslav Klose, Toni Kroos, Mesut Ozil and Andre Schurrle could just as easily prove Maracana match-winners. [video=youtube;N3ac_fz-AAQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3ac_fz-AAQ[/video] Argentina arrived in Brazil with, by common consent, the most potent forward line in world football. But so far, Messi aside, their attacking players have failed to justify their "Fantastic Four" tag. Fitness problems have made it tough for Sergio Aguero to shine, while Gonzalo Higuain and Angel Di Maria have managed just one goal apiece. The 27-year-old believes it is Argentina's battling spirit which will be crucial against Germany. "We will remember what the champions of 1978 and 1986 achieved but we will also try to achieve glory by the fight and heart of this team," he said. "Maybe for many people it is not the dream final, because they wanted us to play Brazil, but it will be a fantastic game," he added. German fans at the Maracana will be hugely outnumbered by their Argentine counterparts, but they could enjoy support from many Brazilians. The locals' attempts to get over defeat to Germany have not been helped by the presence of approximately 100,000 Argentina fans in Rio - many raucously asking Brazilians "how it feels" to concede seven times via a popular terrace song. So while Argentina represent the last obstacle to a European side winning a World Cup in the Americas for the first time, don't expect too much continental solidarity from Brazilians on Sunday. Germany v Argentina Head-to-Head • This is the third World Cup final between Argentina and Germany (including West Germany). Argentina won the first 3-2 in 1986 but weredefeated 1-0 at the 1990 tournament. • Victory in 1986 is Argentina's only previous World Cup win in six matches against the Germans, and they were eliminated by them at both the 2006 and 2010 tournaments. • Their overall World Cup record against Germany or West Germany is W1, D2, L3, although one of those draws was a quarter-final in 2006 which the Germans then won on penalties. • Argentina's 4-0 defeat to Germany in the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup is their heaviest defeat at the tournament since 1974. • The most recent meeting was a friendly in Frankfurt in August 2012 which Argentina won 3-1. Previous World Cup Meetings 1958: West Germany 3-1 Argentina (first round) 1966: Argentina 0-0 West Germany (first round) 1986: Argentina 3-2 West Germany (final) 1990: West Germany 1-0 Argentina (final) 2006: Germany 1-1 Argentina (GER won 4-2 on pens, quarter-final) Germany • This will be the eight time Germany or West Germany have appeared in a World Cup final - a new record. They have won three and lost four of the previous seven finals. • A fourth victory would see them match Italy's tally - only five-time champions Brazil have a better record. • A win would mean they become the first European side to win the World Cup in the Americas. • The Germans have lost more finals (four) than anyone else. That includes three defeats in their last four final appearances. • Germany are unbeaten in their last 17 internationals (W12, D5). Their last defeat was a 4-3 loss to the USA in a friendly in June 2013. • In Thomas Muller's 12 World Cup appearances he has scored 10 goals and assisted six more. Argentina • La Albiceleste have kept four clean sheets at this World Cup, more than any other side. They have yet to concede a goal in the knock-out stage. • Lionel Messi has created 21 chances at the 2014 World Cup, more than any other player. • Messi has failed to score in his last three games. He has not gone four international matches without a goal since Alejandro Sabella took charge of Argentina in August 2011. • Argentina were eliminated by Germany at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups. No team has ever been eliminated by the same opponents in the knock-out stage of three successive World Cups. • Argentina's squad has an average age of just under 29 - if they win they will replace Italy (2006) as the oldest World Cup winners. • They are the only team who have yet to fall behind at the 2014 World Cup. What the bookies say: Match (90 mins) - Germany 13/10, Draw 11/5, Argentina 12/5 Outright – Germany 4/6, Argentina 6/5 2014 WORLD CUP RESULTS - THE ROAD TO THE MARACANA Thursday 12th June Brazil 3-1 Croatia - (Group A) Friday 13th June 2014 Mexico 1-0 Cameroon - (Group A) Spain 1-5 Netherlands - (Group B) Chile 3-1 Australia - Group B Saturday 14th June 2014 Colombia 3-0 Greece - (Group C) Uruguay 1-3 Costa Rica - (Group D) England 1-2 Italy - (Group D) Sunday 15th June 2014 Ivory Coast 2-1 Japan - (Group C) Switzerland 2-1 Ecuador - (Group E) France 3-0 Honduras - (Group E) Argentina 2-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina - (Group F) Monday 16th June 2014 Germany 4-0 Portugal - (Group G) Iran 0-0 Nigeria - (Group F) Ghana 1-2 USA - (Group G) Tuesday 17th June 2014 Belgium 2-1 Algeria - (Group H) Brazil 0-0 Mexico - (Group A) Russia 1-1 South Korea - (Group H) Wednesday 18th June 2014 Australia 2-3 Netherlands - (Group B) Spain 0-2 Chile - (Group B) Cameroon 0-4 Croatia - (Group A) Thursday 19th June 2014 Colombia 2-1 Ivory Coast - (Group C) Uruguay 2-1 England - (Group D) Japan 0-0 Greece - (Group C) Friday 20th June 2014 Italy 0-1 Costa Rica - (Group D) Switzerland 2-5 France - (Group E) Honduras 1-2 Ecuador - (Group E) Saturday 21st June 2014 Argentina 1-0 Iran - (Group F) Germany 2-2 Ghana - (Group G) Nigeria 1-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina - (Group F) Sunday 22nd June 2014 Belgium 1-0 Russia - (Group H) South Korea 2-4 Algeria - (Group H) USA 2-2 Portugal - (Group G) FINAL GROUP GAMES Monday 23rd June 2014 Australia 0-3 Spain - (Group B) Netherlands 2-0 Chile - (Group B) Cameroon 1-4 Brazil - (Group A) Croatia 1-3 Mexico - (Group A) Tuesday 24th June 2014 Italy 0-1 Uruguay - (Group D) Costa Rica 0-0 England - (Group D) Japan 1-4 Colombia - (Group C) Greece 2-1 Ivory Coast - (Group C) Wednesday 25th June 2014 Nigeria 2-3 Argentina - (Group F) Bosnia-Herzegovina 3-1 Iran - (Group F) Honduras 0-3 Switzerland - (Group E) Ecuador 0-0 France - (Group E) Thursday 26th June 2014 USA 0-1 Germany - (Group G) Portugal 2-1 Ghana - (Group G) South Korea 0-1 Belgium - (Group H) Algeria 1-1 Russia - (Group H) LAST 16 Colombia 2-0 Uruguay Brazil 1-1 Chile (Brazil win on penalties) Costa Rica 1-1 Greece (Costa Rica win on penalties) Holland 2-1 Mexico Germany 2-1 Algeria (After extra time) France 2 - Nigeria 0 Argentina 1-0 Switzerland (After extra time) USA 1-2 Belgium (After extra time) QUARTER FINALS France 0-1 Germany Brazil 2-1 Colombia Argentina 1-0 Belgium Costa Rica 0-0 Holland SEMI FINALS Brazil 1-7 Germany Holland 0-0 Argentina (Argentina won on penalties) THIRD PLACE PLAY OFF Brazil 0-3 Holland FINAL Germany 1-0 Argentina (Sunday 13th July - 8pm) ALL UPDATED AFTER 2014 FINAL WORLD CUP WINNERS 5 - Brazil 4 - Italy, Germany 2 - Argentina, Uruguay 1- France, England, Spain RUNNERS UP 4 - Germany 3 - Holland, Argentina 2 - Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Brazil, Italy 1 - Sweden, France FINALISTS 8 - Germany 7 - Brazil 6 - Italy 5 - Argentina 3 - Holland 2 - Uruguay, France, Czechoslovakia, Hungary 1 - England, Spain, Sweden GOLDEN BOOT WINNERS 1930 - Guillermo Stabile (Argentina) - 8 1934 - Oldrich Nejedly (Czechoslovakia) - 5 1938 - Leonidas da Silva (Brazil) -8 1950 - Marques Ademir (Brazil) - 7 1954 - Sandor Kocsis (Hungary) -11 1958 –Just Fontaine (France) -13 1962 - Florian Albert (Hungary), Garrincha (Brazil) , Valentin Ivanov (USSR), Drazan Jerkovic (Yugoslavia), Leonel Sanchez (Chile), Vava (Brazil) - 4 1966 - Eusebio (Portugal) - 9 1970 - Gerd Müller (Germany) - 10 1974 - Grzegorz Lato (Poland) - 7 1978 - Mario Kempes (Argentina) - 6 1982 - Paolo Rossi (Italy) - 6 1986 - Gary Lineker (England) - 6 1990 - Salvatore Schillaci (Italy) - 6 1994 - Oleg Salenko (Russia) and Hristo Stoichkov (Bulgaria) - 6 1998 - Davor Suker (Croatia) - 6 2002 - Ronaldo (Brazil) - 8 2006 - Klose (Germany) - 5 2010 - Thomas Muller (Germany) - 5 2014 - James Rodriguez (Colombia) - 6 WORLD CUP FINALS 1930 - Uruguay 4–2 Argentina Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay 80,000 1934 - Italy 2–1 Czechoslovakia (after ET) Stadio Nazionale, PNF Rome, Italy 50,000 1938 - Italy 4–2 Hungary Stade Olympique de Colombes, Paris, France 45,000 1950 - Uruguay 2–1 Brazil (Final Group Match) Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 174,000 1954 - West Germany 3–2 Hungary w**kdorf Stadium, Bern, Switzerland 60,000 1958 - Brazil 5–2 Sweden RÃ¥sunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden 51,800 1962 - Brazil 3–1 Czechoslovakia Estadio Nacional Santiago, Chile 69,000 1966 - England 4–2 West Germany (after ET) Wembley Stadium London, England 93,000 1970 - Brazil 4–1 Italy Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico 107,412 1974 - West Germany 2–1 Holland Olympiastadion, Munich, West Germany 75,200 1978 - Argentina 3–1 Holland (after ET) Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina 71,483 1982 - Italy 3–1 West Germany Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain 90,000 1986 - Argentina 3–2 West Germany Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico 114,600 1990 - West Germany 1–0 Argentina Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy 73,603 1994 - Brazil 0–0 Italy (Brazil win on pens) Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California, United States 94,194 1998 - France 3–0 Brazil Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France 80,000 2002 - Brazil 2–0 Germany International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan 69,029 2006 - Italy 1–1 France (Italy win on pens) Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany 69,000 2010 - Spain 1–0 Holland (after ET) Soccer City, Johannesburg, South Africa 84,490 2014 - Germany 1-0 Argentina (after ET) Maracana Stadium, Brazil
After a great performance things can sometimes go pear shaped. People now expect Germany to win. I've got a feeling that Argentina will shut up shop and rely on Messi to produce a bit of magic. Argentina 1 Germany 0
This is one game that is tough to call, I know Germany thrashed Brazil but so did Holland to a lesser extent. This game is going to be much closer and even though i think the Germans will come out on top i would not put any money on it....I fancy a low scoring game where the winner will win 1-0 or 2-1
Argentina are going to destroy Germany later on my ps3 I think Germany will walk this if they play too their potential. Can easily see a 3-0 or 4-0 demolition here as Argentina have been as poor as Brazil.
I think Argentina are more organised and disciplined than Brazil. Holland showed what a mess Brazil are in so I don't think it's a case of Germany being outstanding, they only beat France 1-0 etc I'll stick to my prediction of a close, cagey game.
I think Germany is a solid unit and perhaps too solid to be beaten by Argentina unless they're firing on all offensive cylinders - and the German keeper is terrific. I'd like to see Argentina win just because it would mean that the flair and promise of Messi, Higuain, Aguerro and Di Maria showed up and put on a show. Either way it's going to be a great contest especially on the technical side of things.
Like most posters I agree that if Messi is shackled the German's will stroll it. Let's hope. Saw a thing on Sky a couple of days ago and they had a map showing where the worldwide support was going - basically the whole world wanted Germany to win whilst Argentina had Argentina (no surprise there), a couple of South American countries and Iran. Yes Valley, you're on your own.
We have the best mods , even when they compete . Germany will remember 2 things( I hope ) from this game ... the Argentina defense and Messi ...
