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Franz Beckenbauer believes there could hardly be a better pairing for the 2014 World Cup final than Germany against Argentina. It is one of the great international footballing fixtures, and the captain of Germany's 1974 World Cup winning team was involved in both previous finals between the countries as Germany coach. The first encounter in Mexico back in 1986 ended in a 3–2 defeat, but Beckenbauer and his men gained revenge four years later with a 1–0 victory in Rome.
Speaking exclusively to DFB.de reporter Wolfgang Tobien, Beckenbauer revealed his favourites for Sunday's clash at the Maracanã and explained the reasons why. The 68-year-old compared the approach and tactics of the current team spearheaded by Lionel Messi with the '86 and '90 sides built around Diego Maradona, and explored parallels between the 2014 Germany squad and the 1990 world champions.
The Kaiser named the player who has surprised him most in the Germany set-up, stated unmistakably that Joachim Löw has done everything right at the tournament, placed the extraordinary 7–1 semi-final victory over Brazil in context and assessed Toni Kroos’ much-touted but still unconfirmed switch to Real Madrid. Finally he explained why he will not be watching this World Cup final at the stadium in Rio, but on TV at home.
DFB.de: Germany versus Argentina, the three-time world champions against two-time World Cup winners - is it your dream final?
Franz Beckenbauer: It could hardly be better, although perfection in my eyes would be a final between Brazil and Germany. However, that was never possible due to the teams’ predetermined paths through the tournament so it had to be in the semi-finals. It would have been an absolutely classic encounter. But Germany versus Argentina is also a classic match and a fantastic fixture. It's a top-quality pairing based on a long and healthy rivalry. I was in the thick of it myself as coach for the 1986 and 1990 World Cup finals.
DFB.de: Will Sunday's game be the tournament highlight in every sense of the word?
Beckenbauer: The final should always be the highlight of a World Cup. In my opinion this World Cup has included many very good games with lots of excitement and a high standard of play. We can be very pleased with the way the tournament has unfolded. Now it's time for the icing on the cake. From a German point of view that means winning a hopefully high-class final.
DFB.de: Will it be more characterised by Argentina's tight defending as most people expect, or Germany's lively attacking efforts?
Beckenbauer: Argentina are extremely defensive, although they have a dangerous finisher up front in the shape of Higuain and the best provider of them all with Messi, who also scores goals. There's no way they'll make the same mistake as the Brazilians with their catastrophic defending. I hope our team can impose their attacking intent on the game.
DFB.de: What are the chances of that?
Beckenbauer: Looking at it rationally in the build-up you have to say Germany have the edge in every area. They have an extra day to recover. In contrast to Argentina, they came through the semi-finals without extra time and penalties. And on top of that the team is in superb form and still has the potential to improve, although you frankly can't improve on the first half against Brazil. That was perfection.
DFB.de: So you have Germany down as favourites?
Beckenbauer: Absolutely, simply because they have much more class as a team. There's also the setting for the final. I really can't see the Brazilian spectators supporting Argentina on Sunday. When you add in our own it'll be a home game at the Maracanã.
DFB.de: So who will be crowned world champions at the final whistle?
Beckenbauer: It can only be Germany.
DFB.de: Argentina were the opponents when, as you mentioned, you coached Germany in the 1986 and 1990 World Cup finals. Do you see any similarities between today's Argentina and either of the teams back then?
Beckenbauer: I certainly do, in terms of a fundamental philosophy and tactics. Nothing’s essentially changed in terms of their compact and physically robust defensive approach. The goalkeepers, Goycochea in 1990 and Romero now, both rate as shootout specialists. Back then Burruchaga and Valdano were just as dangerous as Higuain in attack. And obviously, there was a world-class star in an attacking role, just as there is now.
DFB.de: So do you think Messi occupies a similarly significant and decisive role as the legendary Maradona in his day?
Beckenbauer: It's an entirely valid comparison. Maradona was a totally exceptional player, as is Messi today.
DFB.de: In the 1990 final Guido Buchwald’s man-marking job on Maradona was one of the keys to your success, earning him the nickname "Diego". Which of the German players will we be addressing as "Lionel" after Sunday's match?
Beckenbauer: (laughs) I'm pretty sure they won't assign a shadow to Messi the way we put Buchwald on Maradona. They'll try and trap him in a net. Khedira and Schweinsteiger will be chiefly responsible for that, with Kroos if he happens to be nearby. That really should be enough.
DFB.de: A hypothetical question, but would you rather have faced the Netherlands in the final?
Beckenbauer: No. The pairing we have for the final is a great way to finish an exceptional tournament. The very intense German–Dutch rivalry might have added too many extra emotional elements and could even have been explosive. Germany and Argentina are of course rivals, but the atmosphere won’t be as aggressive as it would have been for Germany-Holland. On the other hand an all-European final in Brazil would have provided a strong footballing argument and put a stop to those within FIFA who are trying to reduce the number of places at the World Cup for European nations.
DFB.de: It means Germany must salvage and preserve Europe's footballing honour and become the first European nation to win the World Cup on Latin American soil. To make it a reality, what do the Germans have to carry over from their extraordinary semi-final victory over Brazil?
Beckenbauer: Sunday will obviously be a completely different match. Argentina are better in defence and stronger in the tackle than Brazil. But even for them the Germans are too quick and nimble, with a fundamentally more fluid passing game. The team is brimming with confidence at the moment, but there’s no trace of arrogance. That's quite a feat in itself. You could easily take a step in the wrong direction and become overconfident. But I'm certain they won't do that. The players and the management have their feet too firmly on the ground. They know the 7–1 victory can't represent the peak of their achievement. It has to be a springboard for success in the final. But it al adds up: the team’s belief and unity, faith in their own ability, the best goalkeeper at the tournament and specific strengths at set pieces for example, where they’ve been so successful up to now.
DFB.de: DFB President Wolfgang Niersbach says the mood in the dressing room strongly reminds him of the relaxed harmony of the World Cup winning team in 1990. You're watching from afar, but what’s your view on that?
Beckenbauer: There are certainly striking parallels with 1990 both on and off the field. I'm thinking about the way our substitutes leapt off the bench and onto the pitch to embrace the lads in tight games against Czechoslovakia and England in the quarter and semi-finals. We're seeing exactly the same thing again. Just as an example, how about Per Mertesacker, who was in all the starting line-ups but was then suddenly dropped to the bench for the France game. But he's dealt with it magnificently! It demonstrates real togetherness and unity in the dressing room. And it comes across on the pitch too. Each man is there for the others, and if he has to, he tidies up if his team-mate makes a mistake.
DFB.de: Germany had played in fits and starts for most of the tournament, so could anyone have predicted the explosion in form against Brazil?
Beckenbauer: It wasn't to be expected. My prediction was 2–0, because I believed and believe totally in the team. But I wasn't counting on Brazil making so many mistakes, which is what made the crushing win possible in the first place. But let's not ignore a significant improvement in Germany's play. They're actually the only team who have improved as the tournament has gone on. A typical tournament team, as so often in the past.
DFB.de: Which players have surprised you the most?
Beckenbauer: The one who's really, really impressed me is Benedikt Höwedes because he's playing out of position. He's never played at left back before in his life but he's having a first-rate World Cup. You know what you've got with the other players, and a clutch of them are world-class. But the most astonishing player for me is Höwedes. And I'm obviously delighted Miro Klose is now out on his own as the World Cup’s top scorer. He’s an unbelievably likeable sportsman. He deserves all the records on earth.
DFB.de: The head coach has been praised, criticised and everything in between by the media during the tournament. What's your assessment of Joachim Löw?
Beckenbauer: I think he's done everything right. When you're passing judgement on a line-up you have to have unconditional faith in the coach. He sees the players every day, mornings and afternoons, and he misses nothing. Playing Philipp Lahm in midfield was totally correct because Khedira wasn't fit at the start. But Khedira steadily improved with every half in every match. We've ended up with a midfield of Schweinsteiger, Khedira and Kroos, and you can't do better than that. So that's why Jogi restored Philipp Lahm to right back. Löw has done everything right, and I mean everything.
DFB.de: Regardless of the outcome on Sunday, will Löw stay on as national team coach?
Beckenbauer: It's up to him. If he wants to stay in the coaching business he'll have to stay on. National team coach for this supremely well-organised association is the best job in the world. And look at the working environment. On the one hand you're currently in charge of a world-class team. And looking at what's coming through from the youth section, it'll make the team – I'm not going to say unbeatable, as I said it once in the past and Berti Vogts is still angry with me now – it'll make the team so strong they'll be incredibly difficult to beat.
DFB.de: When you captained the World Cup winning side in 1974 a sizeable Bayern contingent was arguably the decisive factor. Will Lahm, Kroos, Neuer, Müller, Schweinsteiger and Boateng provide the foundation for Germany's fourth World Cup triumph on Sunday?
Beckenbauer: I'm absolutely sure of it. It was the right call by Jogi Löw to trust a group of Bayern players before and during this World Cup.
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DFB.de: Toni Kroos seems likely to join Real Madrid after the World Cup. What will that mean for Bayern?
Beckenbauer: As FC Bayern honorary president I'd obviously deeply regret losing this undoubtedly world-class footballer. But life goes on after you finish playing, and experience gained overseas at a club like Real Madrid is priceless.
DFB.de: For the first time in decades you won't be present in person at a World Cup final. How much does the knowledge you won't be there at the Maracanã on Sunday hurt?
Beckenbauer: Obviously the Maracanã is a very special place. I played there for the first time in 1968 for a World XI and just a couple of weeks later with the national team against Brazil. They were both fantastic experiences! But I was extremely angry about the injustice done to me recently and that's why I took the decision not to fly there.
DFB.de: Which you must privately regret?
Beckenbauer: I'd like to be there of course. Wolfgang Niersbach rang me again on the day after the semi-final and urged me to come to Rio despite it all. I told him I'd made other plans, because there are a few people there I simply can't and don't want to see. I'll do what I’ve done up to now and sit down in front of the TV with my family, decked out from head to toe in a hat, replica shirt, scarf and all the paraphernalia. It's really terrific.
DFB.de: One important item that has made it to Brazil is a shirt signed by all Germany's World Cup winners to date. You presented it to Löw’s team shortly before they flew to the World Cup as a lucky charm. Is it about to become the ultimate talisman?
Beckenbauer: The signed shirt we gave the lads in Düsseldorf really was intended as a lucky charm, but given the way Germany have played up to now they’ve not needed much luck. Their performances have been so convincing. But I'm well aware of how many variables go into a football match and how the tiniest, unpredictable details can influence the outcome. So the shirt could be our team’s talisman and bring them the little bit of luck they need in the final.
