 "Date with destiny in Brasilia")
Come Sunday and all that happened four days ago on a balmy evening in Belo Horizonte will be forgotten. That day, as 200 million impassioned Brazilians looked on with watchful eyes, their beloved Selecao was humiliated by a rampant Germany in the first semi-final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Defeat is one thing, annihilation quite another, and it was the latter that the visitors from Germany meted out to the hosts. Such were the shock waves of the lopsided 7-1 scoreline that entire Brazil and the countless fans of their otherwise entertaining football went into mourning.
But tomorrow, the world's attention will be fixed on Germany and Argentina, who will contest the World Cup final. At the Maracana in Rio De Janiero, one of the greatest sports arenas in the world, men will be separated from boys, the exceptional from the middling. New heroes will have the chance to cement their place in football folklore.
The first time Germany and Argentina contested a World Cup final was in 1986. At the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City that afternoon, with a certain Diego Maradona at the peak of his powers, terrorising the opposition's defence at will, Argentina ran out 3-2 winners in a tantalisingly close encounter. Four years later, at Italia '90, the Germans had their revenge. A late Andreas Brehme spot kick handed the Germans their third World Cup. Driven by the hurt of imploding in major tournaments for several years now, both nations will look to restore lost glory.
One has to concede that Germany has looked like the most complete outfit in the tournament. Devastating upfront and rock solid at the back, Joachim Loew's men have hardly broken a sweat on their way to the summit clash. They laid down an early marker against Portugal with a thumping 4-0 win, and have only got better since. Argentina's progress in the tournament has been fuelled by one man. Comparisons with Maradona may have become mundane by now, but Lionel Messi will have to emulate his idol if he is to lift his nation's third World Cup. Twenty-eight years from the time the diminutive magician lifted the Cup, Messi's date with destiny is here. A win on Sunday and the 'greatest ever' debate may end forever.
For that to happen, the Argentina No 10's teammates will have to rally around him. His individual brilliance may have won his country matches in the past, but one-man teams winning major honours have been few and far between. With Angel Di Maria ruled out, the likes of Gonzalo Higuain and Ezequiel Lavezzi will have to shoulder a lot of the responsibility.
It may well come down to battle in the middle of the park. With Germany expected to flood their central midfield, and Argentina poised to play a diamond with Messi at its tip, the game will be won and lost in the midfield. While Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira will look to stifle Messi, the hard tackling Javier Mascherano will try to keep a lid on Thomas Müller and Mesut Ozil. Toni Kroos, who lit up the semi-final, will be the most crucial cog. Apart from his remarkable abilities with the dead ball, the 24-year old will be the Germans' chief orchestrator.
The European nation will start as clear favourites. Like a well-oiled machine, the Germans have all the weapons in their arsenal to triumph on Sunday. The two countries' meeting in South Africa four years ago produced a comprehensive 4-0 German win. Expecting something like that would be ludicrous, but hopefully this will be a fitting end to arguably the greatest World Cup ever.
But tomorrow, the world's attention will be fixed on Germany and Argentina, who will contest the World Cup final. At the Maracana in Rio De Janiero, one of the greatest sports arenas in the world, men will be separated from boys, the exceptional from the middling. New heroes will have the chance to cement their place in football folklore.
The first time Germany and Argentina contested a World Cup final was in 1986. At the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City that afternoon, with a certain Diego Maradona at the peak of his powers, terrorising the opposition's defence at will, Argentina ran out 3-2 winners in a tantalisingly close encounter. Four years later, at Italia '90, the Germans had their revenge. A late Andreas Brehme spot kick handed the Germans their third World Cup. Driven by the hurt of imploding in major tournaments for several years now, both nations will look to restore lost glory.
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The stark contrast between the two teams' semi-final performances indicates that Germany will come into this game buzzing with confidence. After putting seven past Brazil with a brand of slick, attacking football, the mood in their camp would be of sheer jubilation. Argentina, on the other hand, travels to Brasilia on the back of a lifeless 0-0 performance against the Netherlands, with the South Americans breaching the Dutch goal only in the penalty shootout.
One has to concede that Germany has looked like the most complete outfit in the tournament. Devastating upfront and rock solid at the back, Joachim Loew's men have hardly broken a sweat on their way to the summit clash. They laid down an early marker against Portugal with a thumping 4-0 win, and have only got better since. Argentina's progress in the tournament has been fuelled by one man. Comparisons with Maradona may have become mundane by now, but Lionel Messi will have to emulate his idol if he is to lift his nation's third World Cup. Twenty-eight years from the time the diminutive magician lifted the Cup, Messi's date with destiny is here. A win on Sunday and the 'greatest ever' debate may end forever.
For that to happen, the Argentina No 10's teammates will have to rally around him. His individual brilliance may have won his country matches in the past, but one-man teams winning major honours have been few and far between. With Angel Di Maria ruled out, the likes of Gonzalo Higuain and Ezequiel Lavezzi will have to shoulder a lot of the responsibility.
It may well come down to battle in the middle of the park. With Germany expected to flood their central midfield, and Argentina poised to play a diamond with Messi at its tip, the game will be won and lost in the midfield. While Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira will look to stifle Messi, the hard tackling Javier Mascherano will try to keep a lid on Thomas Müller and Mesut Ozil. Toni Kroos, who lit up the semi-final, will be the most crucial cog. Apart from his remarkable abilities with the dead ball, the 24-year old will be the Germans' chief orchestrator.
The European nation will start as clear favourites. Like a well-oiled machine, the Germans have all the weapons in their arsenal to triumph on Sunday. The two countries' meeting in South Africa four years ago produced a comprehensive 4-0 German win. Expecting something like that would be ludicrous, but hopefully this will be a fitting end to arguably the greatest World Cup ever.