Glory and goals are in store for World Cup final

Expect more dynamism and positive play during the World Cup final, writes Ali Khaled

Argentina's Lionel Messi runs with the ball during the 2014 World Cup semi-final against the Netherlands at the Corinthians arena in Sao Paulo on July 9, 2014. Dylan Martinez / Reuters

The Argentina versus Netherlands semi-final – no goals in 120 minutes, then a shoot-out – sent a chill up the spines of football fans.

Would the World Cup final be as dreary?

Not to worry. Here are five reasons why the game will be interesting, almost regardless of the score.

Messi’s destiny

The 2014 World Cup could be the defining moment of Lionel Messi's career. Win and some will call him the greatest player in history; lose and he will be the man who fell one match short of being the heir to Diego Maradona and Pele – though he may have another World Cup (or two) ahead of him.

If he has the game of his life, we could be in for a treat.

Without Messi, Argentina would not be in the final, yet his tournament would be deemed a personal failure if he does not end up with a winner’s medal.

So far, his form has paralleled that of the tournament. Excellent in the group stages, when he scored four times; less so in the knockout stages as the goals dried up.

Throughout, there has been a sense that destiny awaits the greatest player of this generation. He has looked happy and driven. Even when not at his brilliant best, opposition coaches have been fearful.

Germany will attack, and that might be what Messi needs to put on a masterclass.

In the semi-final, astonishingly, he did not touch the ball inside the Dutch penalty area. Count on a more dynamic effort against Germany.

Germany’s midfield

Toni Kroos, Sami Khedira, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Philipp Lahm have been the force behind Germany’s excellent form.

Against Brazil, they delivered the competition’s outstanding performance. It was also this generation’s signature match, one to rank alongside the brilliant West German team’s 3-1 defeat of England at Wembley in 1972.

Argentina's defence are not as reckless as Brazil's. Javier Mascherano, in particular, will not allow Thomas Muller – the "space interpreter" – as much freedom as he had against the host nation.

Argentina's midfielder was sensational against the Netherlands, especially in nullifying the threat of Arjen Robben. "When I said it was Mascherano and 10 more, they laughed," Maradona said on Wednesday, poking fun at the "Messi is a one-man team" postulate.

Through the semi-finals, Germany have been the best team of the tournament, not overly reliant on one player. Should Muller be suffocated, the likes of Miroslav Klose, Andre Schurrle, Mesut Ozil, Kroos and Schweinsteiger can be counted on to get goals.

Chasing goals

In Brazil, it briefly seemed that every team felt an obligation to entertain, at the home of jogo bonito, the beautiful game.

The attacking football – and number of goals scored – in the group stages had fans and media pronouncing Brazil 2014 the greatest World Cup in years. Perhaps ever.

Not many still stand by that declaration. The round of 16 saw all group winners advance. The quarter-finals were generally dreadful, and one semi-final belatedly pumped up the goal tally to 167.

With two matches left, the tournament needs five more to become the highest scoring. That record could go tonight in the third-place play-off.

Individual plaudits can still be won. With Messi on four goals and Muller on five, either could yet overtake James Rodriguez as the tournament’s top scorer.

For Brazil 2014 to be remembered as a great World Cup, Germany and Argentina need to be at their entertaining best, and that means pushing for goals.

The Latin factor

Goals seem to come more easily in finals played in Latin America: 4-2 in Montevideo in 1930, 2-1 in Rio de Janeiro in 1950, 3-1 in Santiago in 1962, 4-1 in Mexico City in 1970, 3-1 in Buenos Aires in 1978 and 3-2 in Mexico City in 1986.

The six World Cup final matches played in the Latin countries of the Americas have produced 27 goals, an average of 4.5 per final.

A repeat tomorrow could mean the best final since Diego Maradona lifted the golden trophy at the Estadio Azteca 28 years ago.

Germany and Argentina are set to face each other in a record third meeting in the final. Let us hope it is more 1986 than 1990.

Social media meltdown

The final stands a good chance of being the most tweeted event in history, surpassing the record 35.6 million tweets recorded during and just after the Germany-Brazil semi-final.

Do not expect the blitz of 140-character messages to come only from Germany and Argentina supporters. Brazilians will for a day turn German. Cristiano Ronaldo fans will sharpen their knives for Messi. As will Maradona and Pele loyalists. It is also a nightmare final pairing for the English.

Whatever happens on the pitch, there will be no shortage of entertainment online.

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