The 2014 World Cup comes to a conclusion today when Germany and Argentina battle for the world championship. Will Germany become the first European team to win a World Cup in the Americas? Can Argentina win the Cup for the first time since 1978?
Yesterday, the implosion of the Brazilian team was completed as the hosts lost in the third place match to the Netherlands 3-0. In the final two matches of the tournament, Brazil lost by a combined score of 10-1, allowing a total of 14 goals over the tournament. Just how embarrassing was this tournament for Brazil? The 14 allowed goals is the most ever by a host nation, is the most allowed by an country since 1986, and is four more goals than Brazil allowed in the past three World Cups, combined.
In today's match, Germany is looking to claim their fourth World Cup championship, having won it previously in 1954 (hosted by Switzerland), 1974 (West Germany), and 1990 (Italy), all as the West German national team. The German team reunited with the East German side late in 1990, with their best finish coming in the 2002 Korea/Japan tournament, where they lost in the finals to Brazil. They finished third in the last two tournaments, the 2006 championship in German and the 2010 games in South Africa.
Argentina can claim their third World Cup championship with a win this afternoon. It would mark their first time as the last team standing in the tournament since 1986, when they won in Mexico over West Germany. They won the 1978 tournament as the host nation, dispatching their 2014 semifinal opponents, the Netherlands, in that championship contest.
You can watch the Final on ABC. Every game will also be streamed online using the WatchESPN site and app.
Third Place Match Results
Saturday, July 12
Brazil 0 - 3 Netherlands, ESPN
World Cup Final Match Schedule
Sunday, July 13
2:30 p.m. - Germany vs Argentina, ABC