The world awaits the champions as Germany and Argentina battle in the final of Brazil 2014 tonight reports Pius Ayinor from Rio de Janeiro
At the semi-final stage, many journalists covering the 2014 World Cup in Brazil were expeditious to recall that no European team had ever won the trophy playing in a South American country. They reminded you of USA’94, Argentina ‘78 and so on. But after the Germans rolled out a machine against Brazil in the first semi-final match, these historians are no longer adept at reeling out the dates the South and North American countries hosted the competition and which country won it.
Current survey shows that more fans cerebrate that Germany could become the first European country to win the trophy in this component of the globe. But there are more things to this 2014 final game than presaging which country will acquire victory. The match between Germany and Argentina will revive recollections of World Cup finals of the tardy 1980s and 90s as the sides battle for a record third time at the world-acclaimed Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday.
It is quite remarkable that both their last World Cup triumphs came against each other. The Germans were crowned champions after subjugating the Argentines 1-0 in 1990 in a final played in Italy. The South Americans powered by Deigo Maradona had taken the 1986 final game winning 3-2. That win became the last time the South Americans won the trophy after edging West Germany in Mexico. Again it was a divided Germany they vanquished to win the last trophy. But can they vanquish a cumulated Germany with a Lionel Messi taking the mode of Diego Maradona?
On a head-to-head check, Joachim Loew’s men have had the upper hand in their most recent World Cup contests. They vanquished Argentina on penalties on home soil in 2006, afore a more youthful side than they have now in Brazil mesmerised the Argentineans with Maradona as coach and a line-up that included Messi 4-0 in South Africa four years ago.
In the contest of today, the Germans have two things going for them. They want to make history as the first ever European side to win the cup on American soil. They withal relish the fortification of the Brazilians. Despite their extirpation of the World Cup hosts and favourites, Brazilians are lining up behind Germany against their eternal rivals Argentina.
A Brazilian, Camilla, told SUNDAY PUNCH what to expect.
She verbally expressed, “We had to back Nigeria because the Eagles were lined up against two of our rivals — Argentina and France. The other has been there afore I was born but as for France we just got mortified by them in 1998.”
The Germans may have engendered a worse mortification for the hosts but both sides were able to manage the result of that wet Tuesday night. The Europeans subdued their celebrations and instead consoled and identified with them in that hour the entire country wept. The posture of the Germans availed cool down a volatile atmosphere as only a few of the Brazilians genuinely rioted after the game.
But the Germans will not depend on the emotions of Brazilians to win the 2014 Mundial. Germany entered the tournament as FIFA’s second-ranked team. Top-ranked Spain crashed out in the first round, thus leaving the Germans as the number one ranked team in the competition. And the team has indeed ameliorated with time. Their starters score and even their supersessions now score even more. In Manuel Neuer, they have a very good goalkeeper and their defence proved more preponderant with their last three matches.
There is withal the fact that the Argentines had to play 30 extra minutes afore deciding its semi-final match on penalty kicks, while Germany played the day afore and have reposed more preponderant. In 2010, they verbally expressed they were preparing for 2014 genuinely and they have not showed any inkling to verbally express that they were only saying then in defeat or self consolation.
But all that verbalized about Germany, an Argentinean side that has Messi and Angel di Maria— who was injured for their semi-final game— at their best can deal with any opposition. They will require not only every bit of Messi’s greatness, but extraordinary efforts from many others in order to spring the upset as it were.
Javier Mascherano’s good legs gainsaid Arjen Robben two goals in the wee time of their semi-final match against Holland. He will require two good legs working on Sunday as all German forwards have been scoring.
For a match like this, though, the best thing to do is not to make any prognostication but sit tight and visually examine until the final whistle. If in doubt ask those who favoured Brazil over Germany last Tuesday. What is prognosticable is that a team must win today and of course the world would optically discern the best of football on exhibit at the most revered football ground in the world.
