Will it be a day to worship the goal-god, Germany’s Miroslav Klose, or will the flock take a vow to another deity in the pantheon of soccer greats, Argenitina captain Lionel Messi?
This is the one question that will be foremost in the minds of billions across the world, including thousands of soccer fans in Melbourne, watching the 2014 FIFA World Cup being played from Rio de Janeiro in the early hours on Monday.
The odds on picking up the winner are difficult to predict. Klose has amassed the highest tally of 16 World Cup goals, with two goals in Germany’s 7-1 annihilation of Brazil on Wednesday, eclipsing another soccer giant, Brazilian Ronaldo, who has 15.
But then Argentina has Messi, regarded by soccer experts across the globe as the best players on the planet today.
In their 20 head-to-head battles, Argentina has scored nine wins, Germany six, and five ended in a draw. This is their third World Cup final face-off, with scores level at 1-1 in these encounters. Their last bout was in 1990, where Germany won 1-0. Argentina last won the World Cup in 1986, when it defeated Germany 3-2.
Will Germany win its fourth World Cup, or will it be the third-time lucky for Argentina, which so far has two titles.
The Weekly went looking for answers and posed this question to people of German and Argentine heritage in Melbourne.
Their version
GERMAN
PAUL BERGER
‘‘I am in seventh heaven,’’ says Mr Berger, 64, as he describes his emotions after Germany stunned the world by scoring seven goals against Brazil, the country with five World Cup titles, the highest in the world.
‘‘Too difficult for words, really,’’ says the Blackburn resident, as he dwells on the prized moment when his home country wrote its name in history books.
Asked whether Germany would repeat the feat against Argentina on Monday, Mr Berger is quick in rebuttal, pressing the realty button.
‘‘No, no, there will not be another goal feast [like against Brazil],’’ says Mr Berger, who has been a full-back for the Richmond Soccer club from 1971-1981.
‘‘Argentina is very good in defence [though] so too are the Germans.
‘‘There’s never been too many goals in the final.’’
Mr Berger says it’s hard to predict the winner, ‘‘though no denying I favour Germany.’’
He reckons Germany’s best strength is ‘‘it’s right now playing a team, it’s fast pacing, has very good defence, and with Manuel Neuer it has the best goalkeeper in the world’’.
He says he has no favourites in the team, though he adds that he likes Thomas Müller the best, whom he regards as the best all-round player right now.
Klose and Philipp Lahm are the others he admires.
Mr Berger, a long-time member of the German Club Tivoli in Windsor, where he will be watching the World Cup match on Monday.
KEVIN GUINANE
‘‘Our phones haven’t stopped ringing. Germans now are coming out of the woodworks after the killing [Germany’s semi-final decimation of Brazil on Wednesday],’’ says the jovial Mr Guinane, Secretary of German Club Tivoli at Windsor.
‘‘It’s all so unreal.’’
He says everybody in the oldest and the only German club in Melbourne, which has about 800 members, would love to see the Germans win.
Mr Guinane says the club will be open for business from 4.30am on Monday. So far, about 200 people have booked.
The match will be shown live on the club’s big screen.
ARGENTINA
GONZALO LARRE
‘‘I am about to have a stroke,’’ says Mr Larre, 34, as he pinches himself to come to grips that his home team is in the World Cup final.
Mr Larre, 34, from Buenos Aires, who came to Melbourne one and half years ago on a work visa, says it’s a pretty big moment for his countrypeople.
‘‘I have been waiting for this since 1990 [when Germany denied the final win to Argentina, 1-0.
‘‘It’s high time for revenge. They beat us in 1990 with a penalty and it’s our time to make up for that.
‘‘Our moment has come.’’
Mr Larre says he is being more emotional being away from home, and is in constant touch with his parents and friends, all the time talking just about soccer.
His favourite in the team is midfielder Javier Mascherano, from the Barcelona club, whom he describes as a national hero.
He says Mascherano, central defender and defensive midfielder, puts everything into the team and makes important saves.
He says like other Argentinians, he has very high regard for Messi, also from the Barcelona club.
Mr Larre, who has played rugby in Argentina and describes himself as a huge soccer fan, says he will be up all night on Sunday and will watch the game live with girlfriend Pilar Caivano, best friend, Rocky Cappelletti, also from Argentina, and workmates at San Telmo Argentinian restaurant in Melbourne.
He says he’s not shaving off his beard for fear of his countrymen losing. ‘‘I am very superstitious.’’
The World Cup soccer final is from 5am on Monday.
