2014 World Cup Final - Germany v Argentina

[Spaghetti Legs]

Germany are set to play in their eighth World Cup final, more than any other nation. They have won three titles.
They have won just one of their last four appearances in the World Cup final (1990 v Argentina).
Germany have now reached a World Cup final in each of the last seven decades (1954, 1966, 1974, 1982 and 86, 1990, 2002 and now 2014).

Argentina are set to play in their fifth World Cup final, they have won two and lost two of the previous four.
This will be the third World Cup final between Germany and Argentina. They met in successive finals in 1986 and 1990, with each team lifting the title (3-2 Argentina in 1986, 1-0 Germany in 1990).

No other fixture has been played as often in a World Cup final as Germany v Argentina.

This is the 10th time that teams from Europe and South America face each other in the final. Seven of these finals have been won by the teams from South America.

Both sides will face off for the seventh time at the World Cup, the only fixture that has been played as often is Brazil v Sweden (seven times).

Germany have won three and lost just one of the previous six World Cup encounters with Argentina (D2). Germany also won the penalty shootout in 2006 against Argentina.
Germany had eliminated Argentina from the 2006 World Cup (1-1 AET and 4-2 on penalties in the quarter-final) and from the 2010 World Cup (4-0 in the quarter-final).
The 4-0 defeat in 2010 is Argentina's heaviest World Cup defeat in the last 40 years (0-4 v Netherlands in 1974).

Argentina have won nine out of 20 games against Germany (D5 L6), though. The last meeting (August 2012, Frankfurt) saw Argentina win 3-1.

No side have kept as many clean sheets as Argentina in the 2014 World Cup (four, Germany have three).

Argentina are yet to concede a goal in the knock-out stages at this tournament (despite playing extra-time in two of their three games).

On the last five occasions that Germany have failed to score in a World Cup match, they have lost.

The last time Germany scored in a World Cup match and lost was the 1994 quarter final defeat to Bulgaria (1-2).
Germany are unbeaten in 17 internationals (W12, D5).

Argentina haven't been trailing in any of their six games at the 2014 World Cup, Germany just eight minutes (v Ghana).

Argentina have won four out of five penalty shootouts at the World Cup, Germany won four out of four (including the one against Argentina in 2006).

Miroslav Klose has scored more World Cup goals than any other player in history and as many as the entire current Argentinian squad (16).

Only Lothar Matthäus (25) has played more World Cup games than Klose (23, as many as Paolo Maldini).
Klose is the only player in both squads who has already played in a World Cup final (2002, 0-2 v Brazil).

Argentina's Angel di Maria and Marcos Rojo lead the way in terms of crosses attempted from open play, with Rojo's haul of 25 so far bettered only by team-mate di Maria (32).

Thomas Müller has played a hand in 16 World Cup goals in 12 appearances at the finals (10 goals and six assists).
Müller (2010 and 2014) and Klose (2002 and 2006) are the only players in history to score 5+ goals at consecutive World Cup tournaments.
Müller is the first-ever Golden Boot winner to reproduce his number of goals at the following World Cup (five goals in 2010, five in 2014).
Müller could also become the first player ever to win the Golden Boot at successive World Cups.

Lionel Messi has been the most creative player at World Cup 2014, setting up a tournament-high 21 goal-scoring chances for team-mates.
Messi has embarked on a tournament-high 65 dribbles so far, completing (another-high) 39 of them.

No German player has created more chances for their teammates in the 2014 World Cup than Mesut Özil (15).

Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano has attempted a competition-high 509 passes so far.
Mascherano has also made the most tackles so far - 28.

Andre Schürrle has scored three times in just 156 minutes of action so far at this World Cup.
Only Tim Howard (27) has made more saves in the competition than Manuel Neuer (23).

Lionel Messi has scored five World Cup goals to date, but none of them in the knockout stages.

Angel di Maria or Sami Khedira will become the 10th player to win both the Champions League and the World Cup in the same season. Seven of the previous nine have been German (Bayern Munich 1974) along with Christian Karembeu in 1998 and Roberto Carlos in 2002.

 

[Spaghetti Legs]

12 July 2014

World Cup 2014: Joachim Low eyes years of Germany success
2014 Fifa World Cup final
Venue: Maracana Stadium, Rio de Janeiro Date: Sunday, 13 July 20:00 BST

Germany coach Joachim Low is confident his side can make history by becoming the first European team to win the World Cup in South America - and set up years of domination.
They face Argentina in the World Cup final at the Maracana in Rio on Sunday after thrashing hosts Brazil 7-1 in the semi-final in Belo Horizonte.
Low, who insists Germany have no fear of Argentina superstar Lionel Messi, said: "We have young players who aren't even here and other players with a fantastic future such as Ilkay Gundogan, Marco Reus, Mesut Ozil, Andre Schurrle and Thomas Muller.
"They can go on to play for a number of years. We can play on top of the world for a good number of years, with some young players coming in to reinforce the team."

Mesut Ozil, Andre Schurrle and Thomas Muller could continue to play together for Germany for years to come
As Germany seek their first World Cup win since 1990, when they beat Argentina in Rome, Low, 54, relished the prospect of re-writing the history books with winning on this continent.
"We know we can write history," he said. "In the past we have never had this. Latin Americans, on this continent, have dominated all the time. So why not? This could be an additional joy for us if we were to win as Europeans on Latin American soil."
And the prospect of facing Messi as he tries to emulate Diego Maradona, who inspired Argentina to their last World Cup win in Mexico in 1986, does not daunt Low.
He said: "We don't have any fear whatsoever. I know it is going to be a match between two teams who have had fascinating duels in the past, in tournaments or friendlies.

"This team is not only about Messi. If you believed it was, you would be making a mistake. They have Angel Di Maria, Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain - it is not a team dependent on Messi.
"He is a player who can really determine a match but this team is better organised than in 2010, when we beat them 4-0 in the quarter-final. This is what they've shown throughout the tournament.
"I think it will be a gripping final with both teams fighting. Our match against Brazil will not be the rule. If anyone thinks it is they've not looked at Argentina. It's going to be two teams at exactly the same level facing each other. We have the confidence and we respect our opponents' strength but we believe if we can impose our game we will win."

Germany's bright future
Manuel Neuer (Goalkeeper) 28 years old, 51 international caps
Mats Hummels (Defender) 25 years old, 35 international caps, four goals
Mesut Ozil (Midfielder) 25 years old, 61 international caps, 18 goals
Mario Gotze (Midfielder) 22 years old, 38 international caps, 10 goals
Toni Kroos (Midfielder) 24 years old, 50 international caps, seven goals
Andre Schurrle (Forward) 23 years old, 38 international caps, 16 goals
Thomas Muller (Forward) 24 years old, 55 international caps, 22 goals

Argentina manager Alejandro Sabella said his team would need to play "the perfect match" to beat Germany.
"They have a system of play that is very well developed," he said.
"We will give our all, as we always have. We'll give our best through humility, sacrifice, hard work, being down to earth and giving before receiving. We will give our all so that Argentina can be champions again."

Alejandro Sabella had a three-year playing spell in England with Sheffield United and Leeds United from 1978
Sabella, 59, had a three-year playing spell in England with Sheffield United and Leeds United from 1978 and he admitted it was "unthinkable" then that he would have ended up coaching his country in a World Cup final.
He added: "Many players move on to be part of a coaching set-up once they stop playing but I never thought about that.
"I thought I was going to be balding, for starters, as age went on. I've never been someone who thinks much about things in the long-term. We're talking about 35 years ago. It was unthinkable this might happen."

 

[Frogfish]

Argentina 2-1 Germany

 

[Spaghetti Legs]

12 July 2014

World Cup 2014: Argentina rescued by Javier Mascherano

By Tim Vickery



Back in 2007 when Javier Mascherano joined Liverpool, the midfielder was astonished to find out that some of his team-mates attached little importance to playing for their national team.
For Argentina's "little boss", this was inconceivable. Mascherano is prepared to bleed blue and white for the cause.
I first saw him 11 and a half years ago, playing for the Under-20s in the South American Championship. The instant comparison was with former boxer Joe Frazier - the tougher the game, the more he more he seemed to like it.
Six months later he was handed his senior Argentina debut - he had still not played a match for his club side, River Plate, but his country had identified him as one for the future, and by 2004 an Argentina team without him had become inconceivable. It remains so a decade later.

But it has not been an easy 10 years in an Argentina shirt. True, there are Olympic gold medals from 2004 and 2008, but the nation has been waiting for a senior title since the 1993 Copa America.
They thought they had won the competition once more in Peru in 2004, with the young Mascherano anchoring the midfield. They led Brazil 2-1 until Adriano equalised with the last kick of the game, and the Selecao won the penalty shootout.
Argentina met Brazil again in the next Copa America final three years later in Venezuela, and were strong favourites, only to be shot down 3-0. Then, with Mascherano captaining the side, they hosted the competition in 2011 - but fell on penalties in the quarter-finals to eventual winners Uruguay.
Both of Mascherano's previous World Cup campaigns have also ended in quarter-final defeat - and both times to Sunday's opponents.

Javier Mascherano in focus
Age: 30, Caps: 104, Club side: Barcelona
He has made 28 tackles at the 2014 World Cup, more than any other player.
Mascherano captained Argentina at the 2010 finals in South Africa but lost that position to Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi for Brazil.
He has made a tournament-high 509 passes with a 90% completion rate.

The midfielder has played all 600 minutes of Argentina's World Cup campaign in Brazil.
Four years ago it was not even close, the Germans winning 4-0 in Cape Town. In 2006, Argentina fell to the hosts in yet another penalty shootout - making it all the sweeter that they finally managed to win one last Wednesday against the Dutch - which sets Mascherano up for the biggest game of his life.
At 30, this might well be his last chance at World Cup glory - and there is a genuine fear that this might also apply to his nation. If Argentina cannot win the 2014 World Cup, when can they?

They are on their home continent, inspired by massive travelling support. The draw has been kind to them. They have one of the game's great players theoretically at the peak of his powers. And they can still count on players who, like Mascherano, are successful graduates of the youth development programme.
Argentina last won the World Under-20 trophy seven years ago - with a team that included the likes of Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria and goalkeeper Sergio Romero. But the production line of talent seems to be slowing down. Subsequent youth sides have been very disappointing.

This tournament, then, always looked like the golden opportunity - and the team are through to their first World Cup final since the days of Diego Maradona. The spotlight, of course, is on forward and captain Lionel Messi, the latter-day Maradona, who has provided the odd flash of left-footed genius along the way.

Mascherano is a holding midfielder but has been deployed as a centre-back by club side Barcelona
But Mascherano has been every bit as important as his Barcelona clubmate - as emphasised by his exceptional late block on the Netherlands' Arjen Robben in the semi-final, which for its defensive awareness and determination was one of the key moments of this World Cup.
Mascherano has made 28 tackles in the competition, more than any other player.
But his will to win and ferocious covering work often obscure the fact that he is also a thoroughly proficient footballer with the ball at his feet.

There is no way that Mascherano, employed as a centre-half by his club, would have been part of former Barca boss Pep Guardiola's defensive unit at the Nou Camp without the ability to play out from the back. He can pass well both long and short - and, to the astonishment of many, he also leads the tournament statistics chart for the number of passes made - 509, with a 90% completion rate.
The original idea of coach Alejandro Sabella's Argentina was a line up of attacking stars. But the so-called "fantastic four" have failed to sparkle.

Gonzalo Higuain has looked very sluggish. Aguero has never been remotely close to full fitness, a problem which now afflicts Di Maria.
Even Messi is way off top condition and forced to dose himself - he spends much of the game wandering round with the air of a bored secretary waiting for the Monday morning bus, before suddenly coming to life to create a moment of magic.
Perhaps, then, the real star of Argentina's campaign has been Mascherano, 'the little boss' who keeps coming up big for his country when it really matters.

 

[peterhague]

Argentina 2-1 Germany

God I hope not. I'd hate them to win it.

 

[redsar]

 

[keniget]

Who is everyone rooting for then?

 

[Fabio]

GWAN ZE GERMANS

 

[redsar]

Germany for me. Team play rather than individual (Messi) performance.

 

[Leo]

This whole Argentina aren't a team thing is absolute rubbish.

 

[peterhague]

Germany. Argentina have been shit. They'd be the worst champions I can remember. And I'm so sick of hearing that Messi 'deserves' to win the World Cup that I now actively want him not to.

 

[cloggypop]

I hope Mascher's head has recovered.

And his anus.

 

[redsar]

This whole Argentina aren't a team thing is absolute rubbish.

They are but I prefer German style of play. That's all.

 

[The Slugmonster]

Hope the Germans win but interesting about Maschers stats for the tournament. He has developed his game a lot since he left here (passing in particular). I'd love him back. He would improve us massively defensively. Probably wouldn't come back, but a sneaky 25 million bid to test the waters and we'd find out fairly fast 🙂

 

[jimmy]

I want Argentina win. But I'm afraid Germany are too good and are gonna win.
.
Anyway, prior to the tournament I predicted Brazil to lift the trophy, so my predictions are not to be relied on...

 

[Skullflower]

argentina will win.

 

[Markeh]

2 -2 Germans on Pens

 

[Spaghetti Legs]

Really don't care who wins, just want a good entertaining game, hopefully a repeat of 86 and not 90.

 

[cloggypop]

Same as Spaghetti Legs. Not arsed who wins but a good end to the tournament would be great.

 

[Markeh]

it better be good if I'm to suffer a packed bar to watch it

 

[Athens]

I am of the same opinion as spag bol and clog pop.

 

[gkmacca]

Germany to wallop them. And I wish they'd show a cartoon instead of the national anthems.

 

[cloggypop]

Doug Stanhope @DougStanhope · 26m
Argentina can now kneel down & bury your noses in the sinewy, pungent German asshole & smell the scent of Champions. #WorldCupFinal

 

[FoxForceFive]

I want ze Germans to win.

Dunno why, but I like them as a team.

The games a bit more open than I expected, Germany are letting Argentina play instead of killing the game, the chances Argentina are currently getting suggest that strategy may be a bit presumptious.

 

[gkmacca]

What an historically awful miss by Higuain!

 

[Fabio]

Hope we don't buy higuain

He's shite

 

[cloggypop]

Bony would have buried that

 

[Spaghetti Legs]

Fuck, what a waste.

 

[Athens]

Was he not well offside?

 

[Fabio]

Was he not well offside?

Headed back by kroos init