Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (BBN)-The sun has set in Rio de Janeiro now. The floodlights have come on in the Maracana. We're still goalless, but for one glorious second, Germany look to have broken through. Muller's ball was on the toes of Schurrle for a moment but he couldn't bring it under his control when faced with Romero. The Argentine keeper can gather.
A quarter of the World Cup final, or thereabouts, left to play. I'm not about to call this one any time soon. It's taken a turn into monotony in the last 10 minutes or so. I'd say that Argentina still look the more purposeful side in the second half. Both sides have made one sub, no word on a second change for either as yet though, according to the GOAL.com report.
Aguero goes flying into Schweinsteiger near the far touchline, causing referee Rizzoli to reach for the yellow card once again. It's getting very scrappy all of a sudden. Dirty tackles and no goals on the board after an hour, it's the 2010 final all over again!
Mascherano is the latest name in the book for Argentina now as he comes back late to cut through Muller. No argument there from the midfielder, who has been a rock for La Albiceleste throughout the tournament. Particularly crucial was his sterling showing against Netherlands in the semi finals.
Aguero shows good muscle and good heart to win a corner against the might of Hummels. Messi takes the resulting delivery but is unable to cause any problems. Germany restart with Neuer's short goal kick, but the keeper is soon hurried into an errant clearance.
After a period of stagnation in the middle, Germany attack but it all loooks too rushed. Schurrle runs with pace to burn with the ball down the left hand side and spies Muller making a run centrally. He plays an early ball in, but Ozil gets in the way. It bounces off the Arsenal man's shin and out for a goal kick.
Higuain is back with us as Germany get the ball rolling down at the other end of the field. A deep cross in towards the heart of the box it met with a downward header from Klose, but it's all too easy for Romero to read and gather. Still, you get the feeling that this game is on the verge of an explosion, for better or for worse.
No foul for Higuain, who remonstrates for a moment before going down in need of treatment. He certainly took a heavy blow from Neuer there. The keeper just about pulled that interception off – he used his hand to punch on the very edge of the box and made contact with the ball just before taking out El Pipita.
Higuain is furious a long ball over the top from Zabaleta sees Neuer stride to the edge of his box to meet Higuain. With an almighty leap, the German keeper punches the ball away just before clattering into the Napoli man. The referee decides in favour of Germany!
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Schurrle causes all kinds of confusion in the Argentine ranks as he cuts in from the left flank. He looks to be tripped up, but the referee allows play to continue since Muller advanced with the ball into the box. Garay has to intervene to clear the ball out for a corner.
The intrigue in this game continues as Germany begin to make inroads into the opposition half. Ozil is halted in his tracks by a crunching Zabaleta tackle just on the corner of the box. Germany reset but just like the first half, they're finding gaps hard to come by.
Sabella has lit a fire under his players to start the second half. They've come out with a bang. Germany have barely gotten the ball out of their own half as blue shirts swarm all over them. Another dangerous ball requires Boateng to stretch to get the ball back to Neuer.
Chane right at the off and it's a huge one for Messi! Germany leave space on the edge of the area for him to exploit and that he does, driving into the box before lashing an effort the wrong side of the far post! You could almost feel the Maracana crowd hold their breath!
One change to report from the break. Aguero replaces Lavezzi up top for Argentina. The PSG man was lively in the first half, but Sabella gets the more clinical Manchester City striker on the pitch – though it remains to be seen if his thigh is fully healed. We may see Messi drop just behind Aguero and Higuain now, the GOAL.com reported.
The first half wasn't a bore by any means though. Both sides clearly have designs on how they want to win this game. Germany, as ever, are dominating all of the ball, patiently probing their way through. Meanwhile, Argentina are happy to tempt them forward and use their pace to get in behind.
Spare a thought for Christoph Kramer. Called in to replace Khedira at the last second, he lasted just over half an hour before leaving the pitch in a daze, following some antics by Garay. That enforced and early change could come back to bite Low should this game go the full 120 minutes.
Argentina have had their own bad luck at the other end. Higuain missed a one-on-one and saw a goal correctly ruled off for offside.Lavezzi was also blocked pretty much on the goal line from turning in a Messi cross. A lot of close shaves, but neither keeper has been beaten (legally) yet.
That nearly ended in all kinds of dread for Argentina. A Howedes header at the death that threatened to leave a dent in the post was just shy of hitting the target. Such are the margins by which titles are won and lost.
"Goalless at half-time but in no way dull. Chances for both sides and Argentina's counter-attacking plan working well. Lionel Messi's speed is causing problems for Mats Hummels but Benedikt Howedes cam closest of all with that header right on half time," BBC Sport Chief Football Writer Phil McNulty says.
That was another huge chance. Lionel Messi did everything right. Everything but the goal.
Germany earlier start the game with an extended spell of possession before Jerome Boateng shins it out of play down the left-hand side. Bastian Schweinsteiger appears to be sitting deep in midfield with new boy Christoph Kramer further forward, the BBC reported.
Philipp Lahm finds Thomas Muller, and he swings in a testing early cross which Sergio Romero does well to gather in.
A horrible moment from Toni Kroos, heading back a pass to his goalkeeper without looking, and Gonzalo Higuain is clean through!
He has to wait a half second for the ball to reach him, and his composure leaves him altogether, the Napoli forward dragging his shot wide.
Another great break from Argentina, Ezequiel Lavezzi eating up the yards to beat two or three defenders for pace, he carries it 45 yards before finding Lionel Messi. It needs to go one more, Messi tries to flip the pass through and it's just cut out. Last-gasp defending…
Germany vs Argentina Factfile
– This is Germany's eighth World Cup final.
– Germany last won a World Cup in 1990, against Argentina.
– This will be Argentina's fifth World Cup final.
– Germany have eliminated Argentina in the last two World Cups (2006 and 2010), both in quarterfinals.
– Argentina's 4-0 loss to Germany in World Cup 2010 was their heaviest loss in 40 years.
– Germany are unbeaten in 17 internationals (Won 12, Drawn 5)
– Miroslav Klose is the only player across both squads to have featured in a World Cup final before (in 2002).
– Muller could become the first player ever to win the Golden Boot at successive World Cups.
– Argentina's Lionel Messi has created the most-number of goal-scoring opportunities in the tournament (21).
– Messi is yet to score a goal in the knockout stage of a World Cup.
– Germany's Mesut Ozil has created most-number of goal-scoring chances for his side (15).
– Muller (2010 and 2014) and Klose (2002 and 2006) are the only two players to score five or more goals in consecutive World Cups.
– Argentina are yet to trail for a single minute in this year's World Cup.
– Penalty shootout record: Argentina have won four out of their last five penalty shootouts while Germany have won their last four.
Lionel Messi's 'most important' match
Argentina captain Lionel Messi declared on Saturday that he and his team-mates were ready for "the most important match of our lives" against Germany in Sunday's World Cup final.
"Tomorrow, we will play the most important match of our lives for our country," the Barcelona superstar wrote on his official Facebook page.
"My dreams and my hopes are being fulfilled due to the hard work and sacrifice of a team that has given everything from match one.
