But even if Messi sometimes appears to be missing in action, he has been the difference-maker for Argentina. And Thomas Muller added that even the forwards will need to make fast recovery runs to stop the superstar, who has only covered 52 kilometers in six games - nothing compared with Mesut Ozil's 59 or Toni Kroos' 68. SU: "We need to stop the passes to Messi," Benedikt Howedes recently said. The two draws include a 1-1 followed by a penalty shootout defeat at that same stage in 2006 and a 0-0 in the group stage in 1966. Aside from the two above-mentioned finals, Germany won a group match in Sweden in 1958 and of course thrashed Diego Maradona's mismanaged side 4-0 in the quarterfinals at South Africa 2010. At the World Cup, it's 3-1 to Germany, with two draws. In all matches between the nations, Argentina have a 9-6 advantage (with five draws), but that's thanks to a healthy record in friendlies. Hirshey: What kind of final will we get? In the Estadio Azteca in 1986, it was 3-2 to Argentina and four years later in the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, a late Andreas Brehme penalty conversion gave the World Cup to Germany. The two met twice consecutively when Germany were still West Germany (FIFA views the current nation as the continuation of West Germany for historical records), with one win and three goals scored apiece. Sam Kelly: When the game kicks off on Sunday, this will become the most-played World Cup final fixture. Philipp Lahm, Lukas Podolski, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Miroslav Klose and Per Mertesacker are survivors from the 2006 team and will want to finally get rid of the "what if" thoughts. Germany knocked Argentina out on penalties on their way to the last four in their own country but lost to eventual winners Italy. While the 4-0 in the 2010 World Cup quarterfinal might stand out - it was that night and the previous match against England that Germany finally put their name back on the map - the 2006 semifinal continues to haunt the land. Adding to the two finals, there have been four previous meetings, with Germany winning three times and drawing once. Stephan Uersfeld: Sunday will be the third meeting between Argentina and Germany in a World Cup final. Stephan Uersfeld (Germany) and Sam Kelly (Argentina) preview the tournament finale in Rio de Janeiro.įinal nerve? World Cup history between the two countries It is time to decide which country will stand atop world football for the next four years as Germany and Argentina lock horns in the World Cup final for a third time.