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Germany vs Argentina World Cup final 2014: Five reasons why Argentina will win the World Cup

With Lionel Messi in fine form, we look at how Alejandro Sabella can lead his Argentina side to glory in Brazil

Sunday 13 July 2014 19:10 BST

Argentina celebrate their World Cup semi-final penalty shootout victory over the Netherlands (Getty Images)

A chance to gloat, an opportunity for revenge. To win the World Cup on Brazilian soil represents a dream scenario for Argentina, but they'll be facing a familiar foe in Sunday's final eager to prevent them from doing just that.

LIVE: Germany vs Brazil World Cup 2014 final latest

After Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari boldly claimed that his nation would win the World Cup before the tournament had even started, their fierce rivals now find themselves in a rather enviable position of silencing the home crowd at the Maracana on Sunday.

Brazil's dream is over after their shock 7-1 crushing at the hands of Germany,. It's now up to these Argentina players to step out of the shadow of their Brazilian counterparts and rightfully take their place at the top of international football.

Victory would mark Argentina's first World Cup triumph since the 1986 World Cup final when they beat West Germany 3-2 at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. The two nations were paired up again at Italia '90, and after a tense final, West Germany prevailed 1-0 to exact revenge on the South Americans.

Sunday marks the third out of the last eight World Cups to be decided by these two teams, and here are five reasons why Argentina will emerge victorious.

1. Lionel Messi

Magician: Lionel Messi has scored four goals in the tournament so far

The Barcelona talisman has had to endure heavy criticism in the past over his allegiance to Argentina, given that he has spent half of his life living in Spain. But, as always, the 27-year-old does his talking on the pitch. He had always struggled to make an impression at World Cup tournaments, scoring just once before at the 2006 World Cup. However, Messi has revelled in his role as captain with four goals for Argentina, as well as creating opportunities for his team-mates, and Sunday's final is his opportunity to finally silence those critics who claimed he could never match up to Diego Maradona. He is centre of this team, there is doubt about that, and if he plays to his optimum level, Germany will be in for a long evening in Rio de Janeiro.

2. Strong backline

The concept of 'attack is the best form of defence' is indeed a popular one with the bigger sides, but it appears that Argentina have discovered that when the goals have dried up, it's probably best to shore up the backline. Sabella's teams have always adopted a somewhat conservative style in order to secure victory, but there's something methodical about the way Argentina have gone about defending their goal in the World Cup so far. Just three goals have squeezed past Sergio Romero so far, and while the Sampdoria stopper has enjoyed a surprisingly fruitful tournament, the likes of Ezequiel Garay and Javier Mascherano have been solid as a rock. Argentina's ability to stand firm when weathering the storm has been crucial so far in the tournament, and it could be the key to victory for them against a Germany side so relentless in attack.

3. Never-say-die spirit

There appears to be a certain togetherness with this current crop of Argentina players (Getty Images)

It's a quality that we've seen many great sides - most notably with Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson - about this enviable trait to never give up when faced with a tough situation. And Argentina seem to have picked up this characteristic too, having been pegged back twice by Nigeria before sealing a 3-2 victory thanks to a header from Rojo. They also had to wait until the 118th minute before Angel Di Maria finally found a way past Diego Benaglio in the 1-0 win over Switzerland in the last-16 knockout stage. It's this desire to win, this togetherness which suggests 2014 could be Argentina's year, and even if they do go behind against Germany, you'd back them to respond better than Brazil.

World Cup finals - In pictures

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1/19World Cup finals - In pictures

World Cup finals - In pictures

1930: Uruguay 4-2 Argentina

The first World Cup final set a tough act for subsequent games to follow. Before a crowd of 93000 adoring fans in the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, hosts Uruguay trailed 2-1 at half-time against their bitter neighbours Uruguay but clawed their way back to win 4-2. Thousands of Argentine supporters had made the short journey across the River Plate to the Uruguayan capital in the expectation of seeing their heroes victorious. They had to wait a little while, however- the final was delayed after both teams insisted upon using their own ball.

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World Cup finals - In pictures

1934: Italy 2-1 Czechoslovakia

The second World Cup final was the first that failed to be decided within 90 minutes. Again the host nation made it to the final in Rome, where they were watched by Benito Mussolini and tens of thousands of screaming tifosi. The technical Czechs struck first through winger Antonin Puc and held on until the 81st minute, when the Argentine-born Raimundo Orsi curled in an equaliser. With the great Giuseppe Meazza limping, Italy looked in dire straits heading into extra-time- but in the 95th minute they forced an unlikely winner.

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World Cup finals - In pictures

1938: Italy 4-2 Hungary

Paris’ Stade Olimpique de Colombes hosted one of the great World Cup games. In their second successive final the Italians took the lead after six minutes after fine play from Meazza. Hungary took just two minutes to level proceedings through Pal Titkos, but in the 16th minute Meazza again turned creator to give Italy a lead they would not let go. With 20 minutes remaining the Hugarian captain Gyorgy Sarosi broke away to make it 3-2, but another Italian goal ensured back-to-back Azzurri world titles.

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World Cup finals - In pictures

1950: Brazil 1-2 Uruguay

This was, up until yesterday, Brazil’s greatest footballing tragedy. The hosts were so confident of victory that they hired a samba band to stand by the side of the Maracana pitch, ready to play a new song called ‘Brazil the Winners’ after their inevitable victory. Things started off well: Brazil took the lead two minutes into the second half, but a quarter of an hour later a resurgent Uruguay equalised. Then, almost unbelievably, with 11 minutes to go they took the lead and held it until the end. A final memorable as much for Brazilian hubris as for the football on display-and an echo of yesterday’s loss in so many ways.

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World Cup finals - In pictures

1954: West Germany 3-2 Hungary

The highest point for the ‘Magical Magyars’ of Ferenc Puskas and Nandor Hidegkuti was also their lowest hour. This is the match known as the ‘Miracle of Bern’, when the underdog West Germans snuck past a seemingly imperious Hungary side. The group-stage game between the two had ended 8-3 in favour of the Hungarians, who had arrived in Switzerland as the favourites and progressed serenely to the final. Their subsequent 3-2 defeat would go down in history as perhaps the most famous game in the history of German football- and Hungary would never get so close to the Jules Rimet trophy again.

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World Cup finals - In pictures

1958: Sweden 2-5 Brazil

For the fourth time in six World Cups, the hosts reached the climax to the tournament. The final in Solna was a one-sided affair as the Brazilians ran riot, putting five past the Swedish goalkeeper Kalle Svensson. Pelé netted twice to add to a brace from Vava and a goal by the ‘Little Amnt’ Mario Zagallo, later to become a World Cup winner as a coach. The final was overshadowed in quality by a memorable semi between Brazil and the brilliant French led by Juste Fontaine.

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World Cup finals - In pictures

1962: Brazil 3-1 Czechoslovakia

Brazil lacked their icon for this final in Santiago. But in Pelé’s absence Garrincha starred, scoring four times including a crucial goal in the final in which Brazil trailed. As they had four years earlier they hit back almost immediately through Amarildo, brought into the side earlier in the tournament following Pelé’s injury. The game ended 3-1- not a classic like some of the earlier finals, but memorable in a sense for the manner in which the Brazilians rallied without their star. Another unfortunate parallel with 2014…

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World Cup finals - In pictures

1966: England 4-2 West Germany

The most famous final of all, for those of an English persuasion. Nearly half a century on no England team has come close to emulating Alf Ramsay’s ‘Wingless Wonders’, who beat West Germany 4-2 at Wembley through Geoff Hurst’s hat-trick- still the only treble ever scored in a World Cup final- and that much-disputed third goal that many Germans still claim never crossed the line. This was a thrilling final made greater by its position within our national footballing consciousness, as well as the failures of subsequent generations to live up to its legacy.

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World Cup finals - In pictures

1970: Brazil 4-1 Italy

Perhaps the greatest World Cup final ever from a neutral standpoint. The best Brazilian side in history demolished the Italy of Facchetti and Rivera in the pounding heat of Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca- but the game will always be remembered for the fourth and final Brazilian goal. Eight Brazil players touched the ball in the build-up before Pelé drew the defence and slipped a pass to Carlos Alberto, who hammered a low shot into the far corner.

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World Cup finals - In pictures

1974: West Germany 2-1 Netherlands

The one the Dutch let get away- and have regretted ever since. The 1974 final pitted the Netherlands of Cruyff, Neeskens and Krol against Beckenbauer and Gerd Müller- and it was one for the ages. The Dutch struck first and appeared to be in control- until their grip on the game hardened into arrogance and the Germans struck back with a hotly-disputed Paul Breitner penalty. Then Müller won it with the kind of poacher’s goal that was his hallmark- and in doing so, left an indelible stain on the Dutch footballing mentality that persists to this day.

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World Cup finals - In pictures

1978: Argentina 3-1 Netherlands

A last, glorious bow for the great Dutch side of the 1970s- and a controversial victory for Argentina in a World Cup where the Argentine military junta were never far from proceedings. Mario Kempes scored twice, one in normal and one in extra-time and was named man of the match. But the Dutch accused the Argentines of underhand tactics- this final is remembered for the oppressive atmosphere that surrounded it more than the sporting spectacle.

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World Cup finals - In pictures

1982: Italy 3-1 West Germany

An iconic final, if only for Marco Tardelli’s celebration of manic joy upon putting Italy 2-0 in front. West Germany were never in the game, and Paul Breitner’s 83rd minute strike was hardly even a consolation. At 40, Dino Zoff became the oldest player to win the World Cup after one of the most memorable finals in the tournament’s storied history.

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World Cup finals - In pictures

1986: Argentina 3-2 West Germany

It seems strange to say given their unerringly consistent record, but Germany were persistent failures at World Cups in the 1980s. In the same Estadio Azteca that had hosted the 1970 final they fell behind to a Jose Luis Brown goal. Their sense of doom was compounded after Diego Maradona played Jorge Burruchaga in for the winning goal with a pass plucked from genius’ pocket- before that the Germans had scored twice to level the final from a seemingly impossible position.

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World Cup finals - In pictures

1990: Argentina 0-1 West Germany

Their final four years before had been one of the best ever- but the rematch was as dour as 1986 was vibrant. The Argentines ended with nine men after Monzon and Dezotti were dismissed, in a bad-tempered final that was a microcosm of a cynical tournament. Full-back Andreas Brehme scored the only goal of perhaps the first ‘bad’ World Cup final.

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World Cup finals - In pictures

1994: Brazil 0-0 Italy (a.e.t., Brazil win 3-2 on penalties)

The first final to end goalless after normal time- and the first to go to the great lottery of the penalty shootout. USA 94 pitted Dunga’s uncompromising and tactically-savvy Brazil against an Italy inspired by the ‘Divine Ponytail’, Roberto Baggio. It was Baggio’s penalty miss that decided the final- he blasted the ball far over the bar into the Californian sky. It’s an image with which one of the world’s great players will forever be unfairly tarnished. The final itself, as the scoreline suggests, was the second dull one in a row.

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World Cup finals - In pictures

1998: France 3-0 Brazil

The intertwining storylines in this one far outstrip the quality of the game itself. Zidane inspired the French to a veritable stroll of a victory, but the real drama was played out before the match. Brazil’s star, Ronaldo was unwell yet was forced to play- by the team, by the sponsors or by himself, or perhaps a combination of all three- and in the game he was a ghostlike influence as his side were pulverized by the Tricolores.

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World Cup finals - In pictures

2002: Brazil 2-0 Germany

The 2002 final brought a comprehensive victory for a Brazil side carried to victory by a rejuvenated Ronaldo. It was comprehensively dull, too- Germany had scraped their way to get there bbut in the game itself they barely had a sniff. We’re now well within the sequence of poor-quality finals.

World Cup finals - In pictures

2006: Italy 1-1 France (a.e.t., Italy win 5-3 on penalties)

Somehow, Marcelo Lippi and Fabio Cannavaro dragged Italy kicking and screaming to a third world title after a buildup dominated by revelations from the Calciopoli scandal. The final could best be described as middling- the real action occurred within the space of a mad second as Zidane signed off his international career in violent style with a ram-like headbutt to the chest of Marco Materazzi, who had earlier opened the scoring for Italy.

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World Cup finals - In pictures

2010: Spain 1-0 Netherlands

Andrès Iniesta’s extra-time strike settled what was less a football game than a recreation of the Trojan War. Having decided there was no way they could compete on footballing terms, the Dutch instructed Nigel de Jon and Mark van Bommel to act as trained assassins-the studded chest of Xabi Alonso was the natural outcome. Not a fondly-recalled final.

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4. The best is yet to come

Argentina go into this game unbeaten and confidence is high in the camp, having won all five of their matches before the penalty shootout victory over the Netherlands in the semi-final. But while the statistics would suggest they are in good shape to take on Germany, there is no question they could play better. Even without the likes of Angel Di Maria, this is an Argentina side that possesses quality in abundance in the attacking department. The Albiceleste are able to play Messi and Gonzalo Higuain as a partnership, or use Sergio Aguero and Ezequiel Lavezzi either side of Messi as part of a three-man attack. The options available for Sabella mean they should be able to turn on the style, but they've failed to set the world alight so far. That should prove to be more of a danger, rather than a weakness, for Germany to look out for.

5. Perfect send off for Sabella

Alejandro Sabella could be taking charge of his last match as Argentina coach in the World Cup final.

What would be better for Alejandro Sabella than to win Argentina's first World Cup on Brazilian soil with his last game in charge? Nothing. 'The Sloth' - as nicknamed by the Argentinian press - has brought this side back from the abyss after disastrous reigns under Diego Maradona and Ricardo Batista. They qualified top of the World Cup qualifying section and are yet to lose a game at the World Cup, so to win against Germany would mark the perfect end to his reign as he expected to resign from his role after Sunday's final. The players will obviously be desperate to win the World Cup for their own haul of career medals, but the extra motivation to win it for their coach could be enough to take them over the line.

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