It was not unexpected and it is not world turned around as two of the top favorites of World Cup 2014 are up against each another and are set to fight for the greatest glory in the world football. It Germany gets through it will be their fourth and if Argentina gets there it will be their third world cup.
But either way it will not be a big surprise excepting a German win will be the first instance that a team from other continent will win in South America. The team Brazil that could make it six will be now fighting out for a third place with Netherland. Plenty on offer still in the last two days of the memorable world cup.
Many predicted an all-South American dream final between Brazil and Argentina. But that dream was dashed with German football machine clinically detaching a bemused, bewildered Brazil in the semifinal destroying them with a record 7-1 defeat. Argentina on the other hand limped and crawled into final with penalty shootout win against Netherland. Argentina also won all its matched in this world cup by the barest of margin hardly looking impressive.
But there are several instances in world cup that such team won the laurels. With this world cup soccer has assumed the flavor of “Glorious Uncertainty” of Cricket. Form, quality and records hardly matters when two teams of even strength meet in the final. But the way Germans played the World Cup so far indicates that they may be ending it with another clinical finish if not new Argentine football God Little Messie turns out with his magic left leg.
It could be an all European final. But great that did not happen. Holland had another heartbreak exit from the business session of a world cup. It is only fitting that in a world cup final continents collide.Thirty of the thirty two teams are out of it. European power house of world soccer appears determined to create history. But should not the greatest player on earth have a grab of a major trophy which has eluded him so far?
In the final it will hardly count how Germany and Argentina have reached there. It will have hardly any effect when the teams start walking out of the tunnel before the game, In those fleeing moments where the build –up is over and the contest lies just meters away it will only count which team can hold nerves and produce their “A “ game .
Did German demolishing host Brazil clinically meant they peaked too early? Would that created too much heart sore for the adoring Brazil fans? Which team Brazilians will now cheer for? Their arch football rival or the team which humiliated their heroes? For most of the tournament Joachim Low’s side have been efficient rather than exhilarating, but in Belo Horizonte they found their mojo in fiendish fashion.
It seems inconceivable that Low might tinker with his line-up, so perfect was that defeat of Brazil. The back four is settled, and after initially alternating Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira, Low seems to have accepted that playing them both frees the creative geniuses upfront. Miroslav Klose has already entered the annuls of soceer history with his goals against Brazil and his unstable thirst for more goals that few would bet for his 17 th coming on the way. He will not be seen again in World cup. Then Germany has Thomas Mueller so close to equal or better James Rodriguez for the Golden boot.
On the other side few would bet against one and only of his kind redoubtable Lionel Messi. His Personal crusade may become the defining moment of Brazil World Cup. There is no pint looking behind and arguing that 120 minutes of the semifinal did not see any flash from Messi Left Legs. True he lost his key to unlock the dead lock of the match. But one must not have missed the supreme confidence with which he took the first penalty for his team.
While Dutch coach Louis van Gaal admitted that two of his players refused to take their first kick, Messi stepped up with the minimum of fuss. Even in the short space of five penalties it’s possible to have momentum, and Barcelona’s mini-wonder set his side on their way to their first final since 1990.
Will Angel Di Maria be fit to play beside Messi? Who will mark Messi or will Germany adopt zonal marking? What they do to neutralize Messi impact or minimize to the extent that it does not damage their own momentum? Which of two goalkeepers will appear in sterling form? How Argentines will contain the rapid German counter attacks? How they will keep the sharp shooting Kolse and Mueller at bay?
True that the subsequent matches of group stage games lost a bit of competitive edge but nevertheless it was been a
brilliant world cup full of excitement , tension and drama .For once either side could win and no one could begrudge them.
BDST: 1640 HRS, JULY 11, 2014
