A Germany side chasing a place in history will attempt to wreck lionel Messi’s dream of a World Cup coronation with Argentina on Sunday as the month-long football carnival hits a climax at the Maracana Stadium.
The 64th game of one of the best World Cups of all time pits Europe against South America — a duel between two football superpowers in one of the sport's most evocative arenas.
Germany are attempting to become the first side from Europe to win a World Cup in the Americas, determined that a golden generation will finally gets it reward after a string of near-misses.
Messi, meanwhile, is seeking the triumph which will silence forever the remaining critics who argue that the absence of a World Cup title precludes him from a place alongside Diego Maradona in football’s pantheon.
The momentum is firmly with Germany after their astonishing 7-1 semi-final demolition job of Brazil, through a combination of superb attacking play and defensive incompetence. Ominously for Argentina, Germany say they quickly put the win firmly in the rear-view mirror.
All German eyes are now on the historic Maracana and a chance to claim the ultimate prize after losing in either the final or the semi-finals in their last four major tournaments. “We enjoyed the game against Brazil, but we ticked it off after 24 hours,” said Germany striker Miroslav Klose.
That same steely determination has characterised Germany’s road to Rio, notably in coming from behind to snatch a 2-2 draw with Ghana in Group G and outlasting an awkward Algerian challenge in the last 16.
They coolly neutralised a dangerous-looking France 1-0 in the quarter-finals and swiftly turned their attention to dismembering Brazil. “As a player or a manager I have never seen a team celebrate a big victory so quietly," German team manager Oliver Bierhoff said after the France win.
From top to bottom, the German spine has exuded quality. Manuel Neuer has looked unbeatable in goal while Mats Hummels has been a silky and solid presence in defence. Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira have proved a formidable midfield duo, allowing the likes of Toni Kroos and Mesut Ozil to flourish.
Thomas Mueller has been a deadly goalscoring threat — five goals so far in the tournament — while the 36-year-old Klose has chipped in with two goals, becoming the World Cup's all-time leading scorer in the process.
Germany's 17 goals in the tournament — more than double Argentina's total — have come from eight different players, a testament to the team ethic which pervades Joachim loew's squad.
"Brazil have Neymar, Portugal have Ronaldo, Argentina have Messi and Germany have a team," ran one widely retweeted summary on Twitter this week. Ranged against Germany's attacking arsenal are an Argentina side led by 27-year-old Barcelona superstar Messi. The four-time world footballer of the year came into the tournament determined to atone for two disappointing World Cups in 2006 and 2010.
like Maradona 28 years ago, he has dragged his team over the line at key moments in Brazil. He opened with an individual goal against Bosnia, an injury-time winner to beat Iran, and two more goals against Nigeria.
Messi’s run and pass created the extra-time winner for Angel Di Maria against Switzerland in the last 16.While he was largely anonymous in the semi-final win over the Dutch, Germany will know that one slip on Sunday could present Messi with a match-winning moment, just as it did for Maradona in the 1986 Final against the Germans.
Man-marked out of the match by lothar Matthaus, Maradona still created the game's winning goal — a sublime first-time through ball which released Jorge Burruchaga to clinch a 3-2 victory." Regardless of whether he scores goals or not, his influence is decisive," Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella said of Messi after the quarter-finals.
"A game has many aspects, apart from goals. When you have a player such as Messi, who never, or almost never, loses the ball, it's water in the desert — and not just when he scores."
Yet for all the parallels with 1986, the last World Cup meeting between the two nations may be more relevant — Germany's 4-0 romp in the 2010 quarter-finals.
Seventeen players involved in that Cape Town match featured in this week's semi-finals, 10 for Germany and seven for Argentina. But many observers have wondered whether Messi's dip in form last season was due to a pre-occupation with the World Cup.
MESSI TENETS
A four-time world player of the year, Argentina's lionel Messi is gifted with talents that most footballers can only dream of. What makes him special is that he possesses not just one or two but a combination of special skills. Here are five traits that explain what makes the Argentina captain so difficult to stop.
There are plenty of players who could outrun Messi in a 100-meter dash. But running with the ball is a different story. Messi can control the ball at close to top speed, making him an excellent dribbler. Also, it's his acceleration rather than his top speed that cuts up defenses.
like former Argentina great Diego Maradona, Messi uses his short stature to his advantage. His low center of gravity enables him to make quick turns and to stay on his feet when challenged. Often, the only way to knock him off balance is to foul him. Defenders at the World Cup have been taking turns tackling Messi to spread the risk of getting booked around the team.
Messi is one of the world's top free-kick takers, striking the ball with impressive accuracy with his magic left foot. In Argentina's final group-stage match, Nigeria gave Messi two free kick opportunities near the penalty area toward the end of the first half. He elegantly curled the first one over the wall, but goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama was well-positioned and stopped it. By the second free kick, Messi had fine-tuned his aim, and struck the ball perfectly inside the post.
Patience is a perhaps and underrated virtue for a football player, and it's one that has served Messi well in the World Cup. Messi keeps looking for openings, patiently awaiting a moment when defenders take their focus off him for just a split second. That's when he strikes. Against Iran, that moment came in injury time when he scored his second goal of the tournament. Against Switzerland, it happened in extra time as he set up Angel Di Maria's winning goal with a piercing run down the middle.
Messi also stands out for his ability to read the game, mapping out paths to the opponent's goal in his mind before the opponent does. That's key to understanding why he's such a prolific scorer. Knowing by instinct where a gap will open up for a quick pass or shot gives him an advantage over others.
Final Thoughts
SAME DIFFERENCE
For Messi, it’s a chance to firmly make his case for being the greatest to play the world's most popular game. For Germany, it's an opportunity to make up for the near-misses over the last decade and re-establish itself as the dominant force in international football
HISTORY CHART
There's the matter of settling a historical score. Argentina and West Germany played each other in two straight World Cup finals in 1986 and 1990, games that are well remembered in sports psyche of both countries. Diego Maradona and Argentina won the first, The Germans took the second. So call this game the tiebreaker
MATTER OF FACT
At this point who is favourite, who is not, it doesn't make a difference. Both teams feel a responsibility to go all the way
— Maxi Rodriguez, Argentina
IN FAVOUR OF
Germany favourite, especially after astounding 7-1 drubbing of host Brazil. Argentina only reached the final after eking out a penalty shootout win over The Netherlands following a 0-0 draw through 120 minutes. Germany dismantled Argentina 4-0 in the 2010 quarterfinals in South Africa.
We are looking forward to playing a South American team in South America but we hope the Brazilian fans will be supporting us. We know the Argentina team very well, we've played often against them. We know what to expect
— Hansi Flick, Germany asst coach
Big QUESTION
For Argentina to have a chance, the Barcelona forward will have to perform considerably better than he did against the Dutch. The four-time world player of the year scored four goals in the three group games but is on a three-game scoring drought in the knockout stages — including two extra time periods. While fellow forwards Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Aguero are both capable of deciding big games themselves, and the team's defense has looked surprisingly solid, it's hard to see Argentina winning without a big contribution from Messi.
GERMAN STRATEGY
If it can contain Argentina's biggest threat Messi, its superior strength in the rest of the field should make the difference. From goalkeeper to centre forward, Germany is a team without weakness.
We'll have to keep with Messi constantly and try to disturb him. It will be important to act as a unit
— Thomas Mueller, Germany
HUNGER GAME
I don't want to lose another final. I want to lift the Cup
— Miroslav Klose, Germany
Germany is a great team. What happened to Brazil could happen to any team. But we have players who can create danger up front. We're in the final for a reason
— Sergio Aguero
Argentina