2014 FIFA World Cup Date, Time, Rosters, Predictions: Complete Schedule for Weekend's Final and Third Place Games
All good things must come to an end, and the 2014 FIFA World Cup is no different.
The one-month tournament will be finalized on Sunday, July 13, in Rio de Janeiro with Germany and Argentina battling for soccer supremacy. This 2014 World Cup has given fans some memorable moments. We've witnessed head flying goals, record breaking moments and spectacular saves. We even saw a player bite someone else, again.
With the final weekend games slated, Latin Post.com presents the concluding schedule for the 2014 World Cup:
Brazil vs. Netherlands
Both of these teams lost a heartbreaker in the semifinals, just in a very different way. The Brazilian squad were without its best forward, Neymar, who suffered a fractured vertebra in the quarterfinals against Colombia. To make things worse, they were without their team captain, Thiago Silva, because of a one-game suspension. The toll was devastating, and it eventually resulted in a 7-1 defeat to Germany.
The Netherlands lost as well in the semifinals, but it wasn't decided until the final seconds. The Dutch took Argentina to extra time and then a shootout with the game scoreless. Sergio Romero was the hero in goal stopping two of the Netherlands four penalty kicks. The Netherlands' hopes of returning to a second consecutive World Cup finals fell short by just one game.
It's a great accomplishment to make it this far and be one of the final four teams remaining in the tournament, but both squads are disappointed. Still, Brazilian fans have a chance to watch their team play one more game on the final weekend of the tournament on their home soil.
Schedule, How to Watch
Brazil and the Netherlands will play one another on Saturday, July 12, at 4 p.m. EST on ESPN. The game will be played at the Arena de São Paulo. Fans of the game can watch via the WatchESPN app.
Predictions
Anything could happen in this game. Fans are going to see a lot of different faces on the field and a lot of substitutions because of the ramifications. Third place is good, but it falls short of the expectations for both nations. Brazil wins a weird game, 3-2.
Argentina vs. Germany
The two very best teams left standing are featured in this year's championship. There will be no Cinderella story this year.
Germany's defense is playing like the Berlin Wall -- before 1990 of course. This squad hasn't allowed more than one goal since they faced Ghana in their second Group G game back on June 21. France gave them a bit of a scare in the quarterfinals, but they won 1-0. The biggest surprise was when Algeria took them to extra time in the Round of 16. But again, Germany came out victorious 2-1.
Argentina has been the best team this tournament when it comes to controlling the ball and that starts with the middle field. Incredibly, Argentina has won all of their games (6-0) by just a single goal. Messi has been the man for Argentina this tournament with his team-leading four goals. He hasn't found the net yet during the knockout stages (except for penalty kicks). But he is drawing double teams, and his passing is right on target.
The game will be played at the Estádio do Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro. More than 75,000 fans are expected to be in attendance for this much anticipated game. This was the exact site of the 1950 World Cup finals.
Schedule, How to Watch
Argentina and Germany will battle for the World Cup title on Sunday, July 13, at 3 p.m. EST on ABC. Fans of the game can watch online live stream action via the WatchESPN app.
Predictions
This will be a World Cup-record third time these two versus each other in the finals. The stakes couldn't be higher. Germany is being picked by most, and that's understandable. But Argentina had a much more difficult road to the finals, and they may play a factor. Argentina wins 2-1
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