Five classic Germany-Argentina clashes

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Five classic Germany-Argentina clashes

Germany will face Argentina for the third time in a World Cup final at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday.

It will also be the third consecutive World Cup that the two sides have met with Germany emerging victorious on both occasions.

Here, AFP sports takes a look at five classic clashes between the two:

Mexico City, June 29, 1986. World Cup final: Argentina 3 West Germany 2

Argentina claimed their second World Cup in what is remembered as Diego Maradona's competition in one of the most thrilling finals of all time.

Goals from Jose Luis Brown and Jorge Valdano either side of half-time seemed to have the Argentines well on course for victory, but two goals in seven minutes from Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Rudi Voeller brought Germany level.

However, despite not scoring in the final himself, Maradona made a vital contribution as his pass set Jorge Burruchaga clear to slot home the winner four minutes from time.

Rome, July 8, 1990. World Cup final: West Germany 1 Argentina 0

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 controversial penalty five minutes from time.

In an ill-tempered game, Argentina ended with nine men after Pedro Monzon and Gustavo Dezotti received the first ever red cards in a World Cup final.

Berlin, June 30, 2006. World Cup quarter-final: Germany 1 Argentina 1 (Germany win 4-2 on penalties)

In 2006 Germany surpassed measured expectations as hosts by reaching the semi-finals after coming from behind to beat Jose Pekerman's well-fancied Argentinian side.

Roberto Ayala had headed the South Americans' into an early second-half lead, but the World Cup's all-time leading scorer Miroslav Klose equalised 10 minutes from time.

Germany then extended their perfect record in World Cup penalty shootouts to four from four as Jens Lehmann saved from Ayala and Esteban Cambiasso.

Cape Town, July 3, 2010. World Cup quarter-final: Germany 4 Argentina 0

Germany's young guns counter-attacked to perfection after Thomas Mueller's early opener in the last eight in 2010 as they nullified the threat of an unbalanced Argentina side unde 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.

Frankfurt, August 15, 2012. Friendly: Germany 1 Argentina 3

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 for tripping Jose Sosa.

Messi's resulting penalty was saved by new Barcelona teammate Marc-Andre ter Stegen, but the four-time World Player of the Year made amends to double Argentina's lead after Sami Khedira's own goal had put the visitors in front.

Angel di Maria's wonder strike made it 3-0 before Benedikt Hoewedes restored some pride for the Germans nine minutes from time.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-07-14