Tor Noppharat:, external Now this is already looking to be a cracking one! Come on, make the world watch in awe!

Miroslav Klose is inches away from connecting with Philipp Lahm's teasing cross, down that right again. Germany have had nearly 75% of possession so far but Argentina look a real threat when they counter.

Pablo Zabaleta gets well forward to cross before Lucas Biglia has a shot well blocked by Benedikt Howedes. It's a good spell for Argentina, and a very decent game so far.

Mark Lawrenson
MOTD analyst

"Germany look sharp. I'm a little bit worried for Argentina down their left side. Germany have come down there three times already and Philipp Lahm basically has no one opposing him."

Image source, Getty Images

Lionel Messi hits the afterburners, lovely stuff, as he flies away from Mats Hummels down the wing. So much pace and control from the Argentine number 10 as he enters the area, but his cut-back is well collected by Bastian Schweinsteiger with Enzo Perez waiting.

The BBC pundits were extolling the virtues of Germany's right-wing before the game - there's a sentence to be careful with - and that is where the first danger comes from.

Philipp Lahm finds Thomas Muller, and he swings in a testing early cross which Sergio Romero does well to gather in.

Six-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt on Twitter:, external "Lionel Messi's brilliance or Germany's teamwork to decide World Cup final. Who will it be?"

Image source, Getty Images

A promisingly open first few minutes in Rio, both sides looking fluid in attack. The Argentina support is deafening already. They are ready for this!

Former England defender Danny Mills
BBC Radio 5 live

"That is what Argentina will have to do - play on the counter attack. Gonzalo Higuain almost got lucky there. But Manuel Neuer knew exactly where the ball was going. He has such consistency. He is the man, he is the one you trust."

Germany have four or five men over the free-kick and it's a case of too many cooks, they make a real hash of it.

Great counter from Argentina too, Ezequiel Lavezzi finding Gonzalo Higuain and he flashes in a low shot across goal. Close!

Former England defender Danny Mills
BBC Radio 5 live

"There will be a lot of tension on the pitch early on. Players will just want to relax with that first touch or first pass, and get into the game a little bit.

"Gonzalo Higuain is up front pretty much on his own, at the moment Lionel Messi has dropped in to a midfield position."

You can listen to BBC Radio 5 live's commentary by clicking on the Live Coverage tab at the top of this page.

Thomas Muller is flattened by Marcos Rojo as he chested down a long ball! Good start from Germany.

Jonjo, Reading: Remember when Germany were supposed to walk all over Italy in the semi-final of Euro 2012? Everyone was talking like it was a done deal then as well. People never learn!

Germany start the game with an extended spell of possession before Jerome Boateng shins it out of play down the left-hand side. Bastian Schweinsteiger appears to be sitting deep in midfield with new boy Christoph Kramer further forward.

Neilo:, external Got to feel for Sami Khedira. Must be gutted.

Callum Mackenzie:, external As much as I would like Lionel Messi and Manchester City's Argentine contingent to achieve greatness, the more complete team deserve it more.

And we are under way!

What a moment for Christoph Kramer.

What a sickener for Sami Khedira. After battling back form injury to start the Champions League final and then excel against Brazil in the semi-final, he misses out.

Social media comments from around the world are being translated and curated by the BBC's multilingual World Cup Twitter conversation, @viabbc., external

Kevin Lizasoain (Argentina):, external Go Argentina! The last effort and the Cup is ours!

Christian Mendez (Colombia):, external To support Argentina because I am South American or to go with Germany because they beat Brazil and took revenge for us?

Cami Sosa (Argentina):, external My beloved Argentina, today I am proud of you. Whatever happens I feel already like a champion.

Tremendous scenes from the thousands upon thousands of Argentine fans as their anthem blurts out at the Maracana. Bouncing, genuinely bouncing.

Midfielder Christoph Kramer has played just 12 minutes of this World Cup and was not even in the original 30-man squad.

This is like one of the many, many pre-World Cup adverts. Like being picked out of the crowd 10 minutes before kick-off, the Borussia Monchengladbach man is now starting the World Cup final.

Boy's Own stuff. Real Cinderella story...