Michael Burgess: Germans will try to get Messi

Germany must neutralise Lionel Messi to lift the World Cup tomorrow. Photo / AP

A few years ago, I met Franz Beckenbauer and asked him something I'd wondered for two decades. Beckenbauer is a German legend and the only man to lift the World Cup as captain (1974) and coach (1990).

He was also the coach in 1986, when West Germany lost 3-2 to a Diego Maradona-inspired Argentina at the Azteca Stadium. That day, Beckenbauer chose to use Lothar Matthaus, one of his best attacking midfielders, to man-mark Maradona, which, while it neutralised El Diego somewhat, also effectively took the German linchpin out of the game.

"Did you regret that decision?" I asked Beckenbauer, in Auckland to attend the 2008 Fifa Under-17 Women's World Cup final.

"Yes, of course," Der Kaiser said with a smile. "But everything is always easy afterwards. At the time, it seemed like the best plan."

Twenty-eight years on, and tomorrow, Germany will need to stop another Argentine superstar, Lionel Messi. The four-time world player of the year has been superb at this World Cup, after failing to shine in the 2006 and 2010 editions, and is the undoubted trump card for the South Americans.

However, current German coach Joachim Loew doesn't face anything like Beckenbauer's quandary.

He could sacrifice a player to tail Messi for 90 minutes but won't lose much on attack.

This German side could be the best offensive team in Die Mannschaft's illustrious history. They have threats all over the park, and create more chances per game than any other team at this tournament.

Meanwhile, Argentina will count on huge support in Rio, as their fans continue to flood into the city. All along the Copacabana and Ipanema beach fronts, there are cars bearing Argentine number plates, as Albiceleste fans without accommodation sleep in their vehicles.

"We had to be here," said one, wearing a River Plate shirt. "We have nowhere to stay but it doesn't matter this could be history."

The tension is also increasing for locals, who face the unpalatable prospect of Argentina lifting the World Cup on Brazilian soil.

"It would be our biggest nightmare too much to contemplate," said Bruno Aguilar, a management consultant, who was still rueing Holland's penalty failure earlier in the week. "They would never let us forget it."

The legions of Argentine fans here are revelling in their success, and their provocative supporters' song, written especially for this tournament, hasn't helped their popularity.

"Brasil, decime que se siente, tener en su casa a tu papa," the chant begins, (Brazil, tell us how it feels, to have the masters in your own back yard) and taunts locals that Argentina will be taking the Cup home.

There have been few serious incidents between fans at this World Cup but police and security officials will be on high alert during tomorrow morning's final (NZT) at the Maracana.

After Argentina's semifinal win, their fans were encircled by police as they celebrated en masse in Rio and Sao Paulo, and similar preventive protection may be required if Argentina prevail.