Expected battle of the month will take place today. The strongest national teams will finally be revealed at the 2014 World Cup, and Germany and Argentina are the ones competing for the title. Germany - Argentina Venue: "Maracana" Stadium (Rio de Janeiro) Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy) Date and time: 2014-07-13, 22:00 This will be the third World Cup final where the Argentinians and Germans face each other. In 1986, Argentina left the then West Germany without the trophy, but just four years later, the Germans avenged their painful loss. Germany The German national team has finally reached the long-awaited final after many years, but one crucial step remains. "Die Mannschaft" has lifted the World Cup trophy three times - in 1954, 1974, and 1990. In this edition of the World Cup, the Germans started in Group G, where there were no weak opponents. In the first match, they faced the challenge of the Portuguese footballers and easily won with a smashing 4-0 victory. It wasn't as easy later on. In the second match, the Germans struggled against Ghana and only managed a 2-2 draw thanks to record-holder Miroslav Klose. In the final matches, the German team narrowly defeated the USA, securing the first place in the group. In the quarterfinals, Germany faced an easier battle against Algeria. Joachim Low's team failed to defeat the Africans in regular time and required extra time, where they finally showed superiority over their opponents with a 2-1 victory. In the quarterfinals, the Germans had to sweat as they faced a match against France. Mats Hummels' goal in the 13th minute secured the national team's place in the semifinals, where they clashed with the tournament hosts, the Brazilians. After that encounter, the world was shocked when Germany humiliated the hosts with a stunning 7-1 victory. An impressive start to the match allowed the Germans to score five goals in the opponent's net in the first half an hour. J. Low has no problems with the lineup before the final, and all key players will be able to shine on the "Maracana" stadium field. Predicted starting lineup: Manuel Neuer Philipp Lahm - Jerome Boateng - Mats Hummels - Benedikt Höwedes Bastian Schweinsteiger - Sami Khedira Thomas Müller - Toni Kroos - Mesut Özil Miroslav Klose Argentina What the legendary Diego Maradona failed to do in 2010, Alejandro Sabella managed to do. After 28 years, Argentina is again playing in the World Cup final, where they managed to triumph twice - in 1978 and 1986. Meanwhile, Argentina's journey to the World Cup final started in Group F. Their opponents were not as strong as Germany's, but the Argentinians had their troubles in the group stage. The first match against Bosnia and Herzegovina ended in a victorious 2-1 result. In the second match, they faced Iran, which seemed like an easy opponent to beat, but the South American team only managed to win by a slim margin. Lionel Messi scored the winning goal in the dying moments of the match. In the final group match, "La Albiceleste" clashed with Nigeria. The match was filled with goals, but the Nigerians fell short by one goal, and Argentina secured a 3-2 victory and a ticket to the quarterfinals. After the group stage, Argentina faced Switzerland. The 90 minutes of the game were not enough, and the teams went into extra time, where Argentina emerged victorious. This time, Angel Di Maria scored decisively in extra time. In the quarterfinals, A. Sabella's players battled against a formidable Belgium. An early goal from Gonzalo Higuaín secured another minimal victory for the Argentinians, guaranteeing their place in the semifinals after a 24-year hiatus. The Argentine footballers avoided the Brazilians and Germans in the semifinals, but they faced the 2010 World Cup runners-up, the Dutch. This match also required extra time and ultimately a penalty shoot-out, where Sergio Romero became the hero, saving two Dutch player's shots and leading the team to the final. Argentina's coach has one problem going into the final, but it's a significant one. Injured Angel Di Maria will likely have to miss the crucial match against Germany, although there are rumors in the media that the Real Madrid defender may still be able to play in Rio de Janeiro. Predicted starting lineup: Sergio Romero Pablo Zabaleta - Martin Demichelis - Ezequiel Garay - Marcos Rojo Lucas Biglia - Javier Mascherano - Enzo Pérez Lionel Messi - Gonzalo Higuaín - Ezequiel Lavezzi Head-to-head history Argentina and Germany have faced each other six times in the World Cup throughout history, two of which were in the final. The statistics favor Germany. They have secured three victories against the Argentinians, while the latter have only won once against "Die Mannschaft". Two matches ended in a draw. The first World Cup match between these two teams took place in 1958 in the group stage, with Germany triumphing 3-1. Eight years later, the teams met again in the early stages of the tournament, with the match ending in a goalless draw. In 1986, an exceptional showdown awaited Germany and Argentina - the final, where the Argentinians defeated the Europeans 3-2 and became world champions. Just four years later, the teams met again in the final, but this time the German footballers had success. Andreas Brehme scored the winning penalty in the 85th minute. In 2006, fate once again brought Argentina and Germany together during the World Cup held in Germany. In this match, a penalty shoot-out was required, with the tournament hosts emerging victorious. The last encounter was in South Africa when Germany humiliated the team then led by Diego Maradona with a 4-0 score. Goal difference favors the German national team. In all six matches, 16 goals were scored, with the Germans scoring 11 goals and their opponents scoring 5. Key players match-up Thomas Müller - the undisputed leader of the German national team, who has already punished opponents' nets five times in this World Cup. The Bayern Munich forward has an exceptional instinct on the field and often capitalizes on chances created by his teammates, but he can also create opportunities himself, as evidenced by his three assists in the tournament. Lionel Messi - the star, leader, and captain of the Argentine national team. The Barcelona player has finally shined for the national team, leading them to the final. L. Messi has scored four goals and provided a crucial assist to Angel Di Maria. Despite his stature, the Argentine is a nightmare for opponents. The forward stands out for his exceptional ball control and often makes breakthroughs ending in goals. Germany will have to defend against this player very carefully and collectively. 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