Can Messi Stop German ‘machine’?

The Americas (South, Central and North) have not been favourite grounds for hunting of the ultimate prize in a World Cup final by European teams. And the evidence is clear: For the seven previous times that the tournament had been there, there had not been a single European winner as the natives resisted any intrusion and carried the ultimate prizes themselves. 

It is in view of this absolute truth that in spite of the big game hunting by Germany in Brazil, ‘killing’ the host team and pre-tournament favourites with seven straight bullets (7-1) in the semi-finals, there is still scepticism as to their eventual success over Argentina at the famed Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday. 

But the Germans must be determined to break this jinx and begin to open a new chapter for positive European records in the Americas. That they have the garrulous appetite for big scores at World Cups is legendary, the 7-1 against Brazil last Tuesday not the only exception. At this tournament, they also thrashed the Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal 4-0 in their group match, a repetition of their 4-0 defeat of Argentina in the quarter-finals of South Africa 2010 and the 4-1 win over England in the second round of that tournament. 

Germany were again in divastating form as they mauled Saudi Arabia 8-0 at Japan/Korea 2002, and in the days of divided Germany, they came in the shape of West Germany to devastate Austria 6-1 in yet another semi-finals at the 1954 event hosted by Switzerland. And one reason they are favourites to lift the World Cup for the fourth time on Sunday is that their coach, Joachim Loew, has been firm in his belief that once they survived Ghana in their 2-2 drawn group match, they could go all the way in the competition. 

"From the match that Ghana gave us, we are not scared of any team, we can face any team at this tournament", Loew said of the quality his team met in Ghana, and since the opposition has crumbled before them. But in Argentina, Germany are meeting a side hailing from the continent, aside from the fact that their opponents

have two scores to settle with them: their 4-0 thrashing in Mandelaland four years ago and, more importantly their loss to them in the final 24 years ago in Italy. Both teams are replete with the men to wage a full scale war on the pitch on Sunday, with Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and the returning Angel Di Maria as those holding their spear, while Germany just appear over populated with goal-scoring talents. The Germans have Thomas Mueller, who is ambitious to emerge the top scorer of the tournament (currently on five goals), Miroslav Klose, looking to stretch his 16 all-time World Cup goal-scoring record, Toni Kroos, Andre Schuerrle, Bastian Schweinsteiger, among others. It promises to be a thriller with the Brazil versus Netherlands match for third place in Brasilia tomorrow setting the pace for a grand end to one month of football masterpiece in Sambaland.