Germany are ready to lift their fourth World Cup title when they meet Argentina for the third time in a final on Sunday.
The two nations have built a rivalry at World Cups, meeting in the 1986 and 1990 finals, splitting them one each. Germany have also eliminated Argentina in both of the last two World Cups with a scuffle breaking out at the end of their penalty shootout in 2006.
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Joachim Löw’s side have hardly needed to break sweat in reaching the final. They began the tournament with a 4-0 thrashing of Portugal to help them win Group G ahead of a draw with Ghana and beating the USA.
Ghana were the only team to cause Germany any trouble in this competition but Joachim Löw has since fixed the defence that had gaps in it. Per Mertesacker has been dropped, whilst Jérôme Boateng has been switched from right-back to his natural centre-back role and Philipp Lahm from holding midfield to right-back.
The only two goals Germany have conceded in their last four games have been late consolations scored by Algeria and Brazil. And whilst Algeria did take Germany to extra-time, the African side never caused Manuel Neuer into any serious saves following his sweeper keeper performance.
Argentina were the only side to win their first five games. Each of them however came by a single goal. They had been expected to dominate their group and whilst they took 9 points they were underwhelming in their 2-1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, stoppage time win against Iran and 3-2 victory versus Nigeria.
It took a late Ángel di María strike to beat Switzerland in extra-time before creating few chances in a 1-0 win over Belgium. They needed penalties to reach the final after a 0-0 draw with the Netherlands.
Two positives Argentina may look towards is allowing Belgium and the Netherlands only one shot each on target against Sergio Romero in their last two matches and that Ángel di María may be fit for the final. Either he or Real Madrid teammate Sami Khedira will be a winner in both the UEFA Champions League and World Cup final this summer at the end of Sunday’s game.
Germany enter as the deserved favourites whilst Argentina will want to keep it tight at the back if they’re to stay in the game for a long period.
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