Rio de Janeiro: The climax of the greatest show on earth is only hours away. One man’s brilliance against the collective firepower of another team is the one-liner of a gripping story that is the final of the 20th Fifa World Cup.
It’s tempting to call the meeting of Argentina and Germany a contest between Latin America’s heart and Europe’s head. But Sunday’s blockbuster at the Maracana may not obey conventional wisdom because both teams are only worried about the end and not the means. Argentina and Germany wouldn’t mind the ugliest winning goal in World Cup history.
Argentina are in the race to win their third title from a fifth final and the Germans would be looking forward to lifting their fourth trophy from an eighth final. It would be a third final between the countries, a record in the World Cup. Statistics tell something but not the whole story. No number can adequately capture the importance of the trophy that is coveted most in football.
At the outset, Germany deserve the title more than their opponents. They topped one of the toughest groups in the first round and ousted two big teams in the knockout stage. The Germans have scored 17 goals from six matches and have an all-round strength that is unmatched in the tournament. Having reached the semifinals or the final of the last three major tournaments, coach Joachim Loew needs the validation of a World Cup triumph to show for his stellar work with the Nationalmannschaft.
Argentina, on the other hand, have been steady but not spectacular here. Five out of their six wins were by a single-goal margin and the other was a shootout. Captain Lionel Messi appears jaded after a fine start and he hardly saw the ball against the Netherlands in the semi-final. Coach Alejandro Sabella would be concerned with his talisman’s form ahead of Argentina’s most important match in a quarter of a century.
But Messi is Messi and he can wake up any time to settle a tight match in a flash.
If Messi snaps his goalless streak early in the final, the Germans would have their back against the wall because Argentina’s defence has been surprisingly solid in Brazil. Javier Mascherano, the defensive anchor in midfield, is in line for the MVP of the tournament. The main worry for Sabella is at the other end.
Argentina would be in trouble if Messi fails to fire as they have mainly been relying on him for goals and inspiration here.
Conversely, Germany lack an outstanding player in the class of Messi to change the course of a match in a difficult situation. The final is pregnant with possibilities and an early goal would set its tone. Both teams wouldn’t hesitate to shut shop if the lead is in their hands. One hopes the match isn’t as unseemly as the final the two contested in 1990.
If you take out Germany’s 7-1 demolition of Brazil from the equation, only five goals have been scored in four quarterfinals and a semifinal of an otherwise outstanding tournament. There is a lurking fear in the neutral corner that the final could turn out to be a drab affair as Argentina and Germany would be keen not to concede a goal first than to score one. Both teams are strong on penalties, so playing for a shootout could be a double-edged sword. It would be interesting to see Argentina’s response to if they concede a lead because it has never happened in six matches here.
Sabella would be hoping to welcome Angel Di Maria back into his starting XI. Sergio Aguero, who is still in the midst of a fitness battle, could get a look-in in place of Gonzalo Higuain on the back of his on-field chemistry with Messi. Higuain could later be introduced as an impact player. Otherwise, Sabella isn’t expected to tinker with his personnel.
Germany’s hunger could be gauged from their muted celebrations in the Brazil rout because nothing other than the trophy counts for them in Brazil. Loew’s decision to shift Phillip Lahm from central midfield to his natural right-back position has worked like a charm as the team appear more balanced and confident now. Loew is likely to go for an unchanged XI from the semifinal. A goal from Miroslav Klose will mean half the job done for Germany because they have never lost a match in which the striker has scored.
Irrespective of the result, though, Adidas would be a winner on Sunday as both teams use the German company’s kit. Sit back, relax and enjoy the drama.
