Today is the day, the day we learn whether Germany or Argentina will be able to call themselves World Champions for the next four years.
It is a matchup between the two teams I had ranked numbers one and two in my Round of 16 Power Rankings (coincidence? I think not), Germany, who has been the best overall team in the tournament, and Argentina, the team with the world's greatest player.
Let us begin with this extremely talented German side. This team has been long in the making. After becoming the first nation ever to qualify for four straight semifinals, they have finally taken the next step into the World Cup Final. Some were beginning to wonder if this moment would ever come. The star players this team was originally built around for the 2006 World Cup in Germany are aging. Indeed this might be the final World Cup for the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger, Phillip Lahm, and all time World Cup leading goal scorer Miroslav Klose. Their experience, mixed with the joyous youth of Thomas Muller and Andre Shurrle has created the best German team we have ever seen. And this one might just win it all.
The strength of this team has been the murderers row of attacking midfielders this team possesses. Shurlle, Mesut Ozil, Toni Kroos, Sami Khedira, and Mario Gotze all combine to form maybe the most fearsome attack this tournament has ever seen. The scary part is that not all of these guys factor in to the starting eleven on any given game. The German squad is so deep that they could probably field an entire team of reserved that would be good enough to start for literally any other country. This gives them an obvious advantage in long games and tournaments with quick turnarounds (like the World Cup knockout stages). You can tire the starters out so much, only to see them replaced with fresh legs that are just as skilled.
The only point of weakness that can be found is the lack of a dedicated striker. Mirslav Klose was the guy for the Germans in past World Cups, but his age is catching up with him. Thomas Muller, while wowing us all with goal scoring skills, is still more of a playmaker than a scorer. The only other forward listed is Lukas Podolski, who is more of a winger. With the wealth of talent elsewhere, this weakness hardly hurts them at all.
Because of all this, Argentina are sure to have their hands full. Pablo Zaboleta and Martin Demichalis are both world class defenders in their own right, but they have never seen a midfield this powerful before. The duo work well together, they both feature in the starting eleven for Manchester City in the Barclay's Premier League, and they will have to be on the same wavelength to stop the German attack. The fact that Germany can attack equally well from all flanks means that Argentina's defensive weakness will be exposed. Marcos Rojo and Ezequiel Garay are talented full backs, but probably not well suited to contain the Germans on the outside.
Midfield play will probably determine Argentina's success. Players like Lucas Biglia and Javier Mashcerano (assuming he's ready to go again after his concussion scare) will have to maintain possession and help out defensively whenever needed. It will also be their job to feed Messi and the boys on attack. The one area that Argentina are better than Germany is that they do have several dedicated strikers, all of whom are capable of playing well of Lionel Messi. Gonzalo Higuain provides a powerful threat to start the game, and Sergio Aguero can come off the bench late in the game to find a big late goal (he has a thing for finding those). They also have strong wing play from Ezequiel Lavezzi and Rodrigo Palacio.
Germany's defense is certainly capable of neutralizing this threat, although this will probably be the best team they have seen all tournament. Mats Hummels has been solid throughout, so has Jerome Boateng and Per Mertesacker. The weakness in Germany's back line is at left back, but it still isn't much of one. Benedikt Howedes, while a strong player, isn't exactly the superstar that the rest of the German starters are. Argentina can find some success attacking up their right flank.
Overall, there is a huge reason why Germany has only conceded five times in six matches. Not only is their midfield near flawless and their defense stout as can be, but they have Manuel Neuer in goal. Neuer is one of, if not the, best goalkeepers in the world. When called upon he has been absolutely stellar. I am sure he will be up for the task against the greatest attacking threat he will ever see.
Overall, this is the match that Germany have been waiting for. Joachim Low has built this team with the only goal being to win the World Cup, and now he has that goal in sight. A victory today can mean the end of a very long, very difficult road for a very talented German team. Today won't be easy, the majority of the crowd in Rio will be wearing the powder blue of Argentina and will waste no energy belting out amazing songs all match long. There is also the hex that no European team has ever won it all in South America, but I think this year that comes to an end. Coming in to the knockout rounds, I picked Argentina to win it all. That was before Germany put on the most impressive display I have ever seen against the original favorites in the semifinal. Argentina will put up quite a fight, but will come up short. I am thinking 2-1 to Germany in what should be an instant World Cup Classic.
Savor this one folks, it will be four years before something like this comes around again. I'll be back to wrap it up and put a bow on an amazing World Cup when it's over.
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