The World Cup final is one of the biggest events on the football calendar. Adverts run at premium prices and pundits are placed under the greatest scrutiny. Everyone wants a slice. It was announced that LeBron James would reveal his new team shortly before heading to Brazil to take in the World Cup final. Over the last 24 hours, Rihanna whose Twitter stream has been one of the success stories of this World Cup has shown off pictures with Pele over the last 24 hours. The World Cup trophy would be transported in a Louis Vuitton case by none other than Brazilian supermodel, Gisele.
The final of this installment of this World Cup is important primarily because it seeks to crown a winner at what was prematurely described as the greatest World Cup of the modern era. I must admit, I’ve been guilty of this but take this opportunity to recant. Based on the group stages, it undoubtedly rivals USA 94, my favorite. However, the knock out games tended to be very tight cagey bordering on boring games won mostly by one goal margins and that surely undermines those claims. Considering that the next versions are in what I would have to ascribe politically correctly as slightly troubled regions (Russia and Qatar), it is very likely this might be the best World Cup for a while.
It is pertinent that this final deals with two sides dealing with similar narratives: Whoever wins this World Cup would be gaining the decisive seal of validity. For the German side who have been the undoubtedly the most consistent side of tournament football in the Noughties era ( World Cup Silver Medalists in 2002, World Cup bronze medalists in 2006 and 2010, European Championship silver Medalists in 2008 and semi finalists in 2012). Always the best man, never the groom. Does that finally change?
For the Argentine side taking inspiration from Lionel Messi, World Cup victory would be taken as the decisive qualification in judging Messi’s standing as one of the Patron Saints of modern football. Despite being the most prolific winner of the Ballon d’Or honour in the history of the game, naysayers argue that the lack of success on the international front is a shortcoming in the conversation of who the greatest ever is when placed against the likes of Pele, Maradona, Cryuff, Zidane and Ronaldo. Winning this World Cup would in all likelihood ensure Messi wins the Ballon d’Or prize for the fifth time and undoubtedly ensure his critics are kept quiet. In the group stages, he virtually pulled Argentina through by scoring the goals in the consecutive 1-0 victories over Bosnia and Iran. In the game against Nigeria, he scored a brace. When the game against Switzerland was heading for penalties, his run and pass to Angel di Maria won the game. Were he to win tomorrow, surely no one would begrudge him the honour.
That similarity aside, it can’t be said that both teams have gotten here playing exciting football. Germany have barely gotten out of second gear all tournament. The tie against Portugal effectively ended as soon as Pepe displayed his customary moment of questionable sanity. The game against Ghana sowed seeds of doubt as to the strengths of the German back line although ending the Lahm midfield experiment has coincided with an upturn in the style of play. Even in the most symbolic game of this World Cup; the win against Brazil the feeling was that the Germans loosened the chokehold on Scolari’s men as encapsulated by what has come to be a discredited newspaper publication that a pact was made at half time to pity the Brazilians.
There’s a strong thematic link to Pep Guardiola, the great manager of our time. The German side is primarily filled up with players from his Bayern side who play in the Guardiola way(via Pep’s mentor, Van Gaal and Heynckes): Manuel Neuer, a goalkeeper without peer has shone for his abilities as the sweeper keeper. His pace and ability to play with his feet are a perfect fit for the high line the Germans play with. Toni Kroos who has perfected the art of performing in metronomic fashion is Xavi reincarnated on steroids in that he tends to carry more of a goal threat. La Albiceleste have had
two of Guardiola’s favoured soldiers as their best players. Javier Mascherano, the captain without the armband has hurried and scarried the opposition into submission in what must be seen as his special number proclaiming that the role of the defensive midfielder is very far from dead. It was also under Guardiola’s tutelage that Messi fulfilled his talent. Guardiola is also a student of Bielsa. El Loco is Argentine. Whoever emerges victorious would be a credit to the Guardiola ethos.
It is also worth noting that there is a bit of an historic affair to this tie. Ze Germans have sent the Argentines packing at the last two World Cups. In 2006, Jose Pekerman’s poor use of his substitutes ceded the momentum to the Germans with Jens Lehmann emerging as a hero in the penalty shoot out. In 2010, Diego Maradona’s insistence on filling the team with forward types ensured that the Argentines were torn to bits with four unreplied goals. The Germans also overcame the Argentines in the 1990 final securing revenge for the reverse in 1986.
Who do I think will win? Germany.
At the risk of stating the obvious, the team who scores first. At the 2010 World Cup, early goals were Germany’s forte and they seem to have rediscovered that touch of late. Were this to happen, it is likely that Argentina like Brazil before them would have to remove the shackles and this could play to Germany’s strengths on the counter.
However, looking at the way the two teams set up, it is highly unlikely that the Germans would have an obvious plan for Messi. One of their credits being that they are so good, emphasising their strengths can only go one way. This could serve Messi well but on the other hand, it could mean that he has to drop deeper to receive the ball as the lion share of possession would be held by the German three of Schweinsteiger, Khedira and Kroos. This could be a draining prospect that negates his strengths. Sages like Arsene Wenger and Gary Lineker have observed that he looks fatigued and this has resulted in him making less runs than he does on the average. One journalist observed that Angel di Maria was able to train yesterday and his return could strengthen the Argentines on the wings. With a right back like Pablo Zabaleta possibly up against a player like Mesut Ozil who isn’t exactly famed for his defensive strengths, joy could be had down the flanks although the presence of Phillip Lahm in his favoured position would be a great counter move when combined with the aerial strength of any of the two German centre backs chosen from Mats Hummels, Jerome Boateng and Per Mertesacker.
Thomas Muller being Thomas Muller is probably the Germans greatest strength. He is the most direct option and makes for what he lacks in style with great runs and pure hard work and I won’t expect today to be any different.