Last tango in rio: world logs on to clash of football titans
14 July 2014 12:11 AM GMT
The most entertaining World Cup in a generation came down to a final match that pit the planet’s best player against the tournament’s best team. Lionel Messi led Argentina out against Germany at Maracana Stadium on Sunday for a game that would go on to define careers, cement legacies. It was watched by a global audience of about a billion viewers. And it was a matchup that meant more to both sides than just a chance to lift one of the most hallowed trophies in sports.
For Messi, it was a chance to firmly make his case for being perhaps the greatest ever to play the world’s most popular game. For Germany, it was an opportunity to make up for a number of near-misses over the last decade and re-establish itself as the dominant force in international football.
And then there was the matter of settling a historical score. Argentina and West Germany played each other in two straight World Cup finals in 1986 and ‘90, games that are well remembered in the sports psyche of both countries. Diego Maradona and Argentina won the first, the Germans took the second. So what we witnessed last night was really the historic tiebreaker.
‘At this point who is favorite, who is not, it doesn’t make a difference, Argentina midfielder Maxi Rodriguez said hours before the match. ‘Both teams feel a responsibility to go all the way.’
India was equally divided between Germany and Argentina. Many named Germany as the favorite, especially after its astounding 7-1 drubbing of host Brazil in the semifinals. Argentina only reached the final after eking out a penalty shootout win over the Netherlands following a 0-0 draw through 120 minutes.
And no one had forgotten how Germany also dismantled Argentina 4-0 in the 2010 quarterfinals in South Africa. ‘Germany is a great team. What happened to Brazil could happen to any team,’ Argentina forward Sergio Aguero said before they locked horns. ‘(But) we have players who can create danger up front. We’re in the final for a reason.’
Hitherto, no European team has ever won a World Cup played in the Americas. Whether that’s because of the climate, the fan support or something else, Germany thinks it can buck the trend.
‘We are looking forward to playing a South American team in South America but we hope the Brazilian fans will be supporting us,’ Germany assistant coach Hansi Flick said. ‘We know the Argentina team very well, we’ve played often against them. We know what to expect.’
For Messi, it was a chance to firmly make his case for being perhaps the greatest ever to play the world’s most popular game. For Germany, it was an opportunity to make up for a number of near-misses over the last decade and re-establish itself as the dominant force in international football.
And then there was the matter of settling a historical score. Argentina and West Germany played each other in two straight World Cup finals in 1986 and ‘90, games that are well remembered in the sports psyche of both countries. Diego Maradona and Argentina won the first, the Germans took the second. So what we witnessed last night was really the historic tiebreaker.
‘At this point who is favorite, who is not, it doesn’t make a difference, Argentina midfielder Maxi Rodriguez said hours before the match. ‘Both teams feel a responsibility to go all the way.’
India was equally divided between Germany and Argentina. Many named Germany as the favorite, especially after its astounding 7-1 drubbing of host Brazil in the semifinals. Argentina only reached the final after eking out a penalty shootout win over the Netherlands following a 0-0 draw through 120 minutes.
And no one had forgotten how Germany also dismantled Argentina 4-0 in the 2010 quarterfinals in South Africa. ‘Germany is a great team. What happened to Brazil could happen to any team,’ Argentina forward Sergio Aguero said before they locked horns. ‘(But) we have players who can create danger up front. We’re in the final for a reason.’
Hitherto, no European team has ever won a World Cup played in the Americas. Whether that’s because of the climate, the fan support or something else, Germany thinks it can buck the trend.
‘We are looking forward to playing a South American team in South America but we hope the Brazilian fans will be supporting us,’ Germany assistant coach Hansi Flick said. ‘We know the Argentina team very well, we’ve played often against them. We know what to expect.’
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