One goal will do it for the Europeans

Let’s be honest, this has not been a good World Cup for sangomas, seers, witch-doctors, crystal ball merchants, shamans, octopi, wajuajis, gamblers and all other jujumen and women who claim to be able to see into the future.

Prediction after prediction has fallen apart in a World Cup of many surprises. Costa Rica topped a group containing former champions Italy, England and Uruguay, although admittedly the last two only won the trophy last when Emperor Selassie was the most famous African alive.

Hosts Brazil were left in tatters, their dreams shattered in a 30 minute spell of controlled German explosions in what has now come to be known as Belo Horror-zonte. Champions Spain left the show before it started and Cristiano Ronaldo exited the stage with a whimper.

In fact, maybe the only juju man who did his job was the Ghanaian witch doctor Nana Kwaku Bonsam who claimed he had unleashed a serious injury on Ronaldo’s legs to ensure Ghana would qualify from the Group of Death at Portugal’s expense.

In the event, Ghana needed the Portuguese star to have been fit enough to knock out USA and a half-fit Ronaldo limped through the first two matches of the tournament, only really playing to his potential against Ghana so, although the injury arrived, it did not help.

Despite the long list of bad predictions, the Nation Sports Editor insists we should embarrass ourselves by forecasting how the match tonight will go.

It is fair to say that this is not the final that romantics had dreamed of. Before the World Cup, the largest number of pundits had written of their expectation of a Brazil-Argentina final; an epic tussle of the neighbours who loathe each other with a passion and boast the two fantasy footballers in this tournament, Neymar and Messi.

When Brazil collapsed, some hoped for an engrossing all-European final, with Germany and Holland – old enemies – offering a tactician’s dream collision.

Instead, it is going to be Germany and Argentina, which in its own way should be an interesting affair because both teams feel they have under-achieved on the big stage for too long.

Germany have become perennial semi-finalists while Messi will never justify comparisons with the greatest legends without holding aloft the famous gold trophy which is the most sought after prize in the world. So to predictions: I expect a tight contest, lacking the thrills and spills of earlier encounters as both sides will be set up above all not to concede goals.

Argentina will pack their midfield to avoid the humiliation Brazil suffered while Germany will follow the pattern noted by one astute observer who pointed out that many teams have been forced to play some of their best midfielders deeper in their own half to cope with Lionel Messi.

CHIEF SUPPLIER

Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie were nowhere to be seen for Holland against Argentina because their chief supplier, Wesley Sneijder, was sitting near his centre backs. This pattern is likely to be repeated and both sides will seek to limit the damage rather than go forward with too much intent.

Germany are probably the better drilled and more effective collective unit while Argentina, in Messi, Higuain, Aguero and the half-fit Di Maria have the more exciting attacking talent.

Still, caution will be the watchword. The victor will win by only one goal. And I expect it will be the Germans, not the Argentines who will be celebrating after a long match, probably of 120 minutes. If it goes to penalties, the Germans will certainly win it because they are simply too well prepared and boast the best keeper around.

So Germany by one goal it will be, after a tight, absorbing tussle. But let’s hope, like the sangomas and witch doctors, I am wrong and instead we are treated, not to a grinding tactical battle but to an end-to-end feast of attacking football.