Germany will face Argentina for the third time in a World Cup final at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro today.
It will also be the third consecutive World Cup that the two sides have met with Germany emerging victorious in 2006 and 2010.
Here, we take a look at five classic clashes between the two…
Overall record
Played: 21
World Cup final: Argentina 3 West Germany 2
June 29, 1986 (Mexico City)
Argentina claimed their second title in one of the most thrilling finals of all time. Goals from Jose Luis Brown and Jorge Valdano either side of half-time had the Argentines 2-0 up, but two in seven minutes from Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Rudi Voller brought
Germany level. However, Diego Maradona’s pass put Jorge Burruchaga clear to win it.
World Cup final: West Germany 1 Argentina 0
July 8, 1990 (Rome)
Four years later it was the same two sides in the final,but far less of a spectacle as the Germans got their revenge with a 1-0 win thanks to Andreas Brehme’s penalty five minutes from time. In a fiery game, Argentina ended with nine men after Pedro Monzon and Gustavo Dezotti received the first ever red cards in a World Cup final.
World Cup quarter-final: Germany 1 Argentina 1 (Germany win 4-2 on pens)
June 30, 2006 (Berlin)
In 2006 Germany came from behind to beat Jose Pekerman’s well-fancied Argentinian side. Roberto Ayala headed the South Americans’ into an early second-half lead, but Miroslav Klose equalised 10 minutes from time. Germany then extended their perfect record in World Cup penalty shootouts to four from four.
World Cup quarter-final: Germany 4 Argentina 0
July 3, 2010 (Cape Town)
Germany’s young guns counterattacked to perfection after Thomas Muller’s early opener in the last eight in 2010 as they nullified the threat of an unbalanced Argentina side under Maradona’s tutelage with all of Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Carlos Tevez in attack. The Germans scored three times in the final quarter as Klose added two more to his tally, whilst veteran defender Arne Friedrich also got on the scoresheet.
Friendly: Germany 1 Argentina 3
August 15, 2012 (Frankfurt)
The last meeting between the two ended in victory for Argentina, though, after Germany were left to play an hour with 10 men after goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler was sent-off. Messi’s resulting penalty was saved by new Barcelona teammate Marc-Andre ter Stegen, but he made amends to double Argentina’s lead after Sami Khedira’s own goal. Angel Di Maria’s wonder strike made it 3-0 before Benedikt Hoewedes pulled one back.
