the day of the 2014 world cup final...
argentina -v- germany
messi will lead the argentineans to increase the stars in their shirts to 3, klose will lead the germans so they can put 4 stars in their shirts... who will succeed ? we are about to find out.
as always, the germans will play with great strength, physically and technically, the argentinean defense will have to anticipate those long balls to the wings, and the deadly centers coming from them... if they anticipate correctly and cover their defense nullifying the german strikers, argentina will have half of the battle won
messi and compatriots will have to play in the best way they know to beat the german defenders, this will be a test of fire for messi. if he succeeds, the title of best player in the world will be confirmed.... after all he will be world champion.
the overwhelming favorite is germany, particularly after the trouncing victory over brasil... they know they could be making history by being the only european team winning the cup in the americas, in brasil, no less. this, i am certain, will be one of the big motivators for them to defeat the argentineans... in 'forbiden territory'
for the argentineans, playing in the home of their arch-rivals becomes, ironically... a home away from home... rio de janeiro (where maracana is) has been invaded by 100,000 argentineans in support of their team; the nearly 2,700 kilometers (a little over 1,600 miles) that separates buenos aires from rio de janeiro has become almost non-existent as thousands of argentineans have made the trip to be present and celebrate their victory.
while the german fans believe germany will win based on their skill and strength in playing futbol, the argentineans not only believe in the corresponding belief as the german fans believe... they are ALSO convinced, that the current pope (being argentinean) will ask for divine intervention in their favor... much like the "hand of god" that helped maradona back in 1986 in mexico in wining the world cup... 3 x 2
on the other hand, the germans will be thinking about the 1990 WC in which they defeated the argentineans in a highly disputed 1 x 0 victory (with a penalty that never was)... and their 2006 quarter final victory by a humiliating 4 x 0
soon, all the speculation will end, and actions will determine who the 2014 world champion will be.
hopefully it will be one of those matches to remember for years to come, a match worthy of being played at the futebol cathedral -maracana. |
