One of the most entertaining World Cup in generations comes down to the Final game that sees tournament’s best two teams go head to head.
One of the most entertaining World Cup in generations comes down to the Final game that sees tournament’s best two teams go head to head.
Argentine star, Lionel Messi will lead his country out against a determined Germany at the Maracana Stadium on Sunday for a game that will define careers and will watched by a global audience of about a billion viewers.
For Messi, it’s a chance to firmly make his case for being perhaps the greatest ever to play the world’s most popular game.
For Germany, it’s an opportunity to make up for a number of near-misses over the last decade and re-establish itself as the dominant force in international football. And then there’s the matter of settling a historical score. Most would name Germany as the ‘favourites’, especially after its incredible 7-1 drubbing of host Brazil in the semifinals. Argentina only reached the final after eking out a penalty shootout win over the Netherlands following a 0-0 draw through 120 minutes.
No European team has ever won a World Cup played in the Americas which may be down to the climate, the fan support or something else but this German side under the guidance of coach Joachim Loew could do the unthinkable.
The question is, what can Argentina expect from Messi?
For Argentina to have a chance, the Barcelona forward will have to perform considerably better than he did against the Netherlands, when he was hardly visible for most of the game. 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.
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.
For Germany, the equation is equally simple: If it can contain Argentina’s biggest threat, its superior strength in the rest of the field should make the difference. From goalkeeper to center forward, Germany is a team without a weakness. With the exception of an erratic performance against Algeria in the second round, Germany has played like a perfect team machine, getting goals from defenders, midfielders and forwards alike.
Striker Miroslav Klose, who scored his record 16th World Cup goal against Brazil in the semifinals, is the only player who remains from that 2002 team, can be the goal threat going forward.
Prediction – Argentina to WIN the World Cup. Who else than Leo Messi to clinch a goal!
