And on Alan's reflective note, Sportsday bids you farewell and we hand to our live text commentator Tom Rostance.

He will have all the build-up, team news, colour and predictions as well as description and pundit views on every kick of the final.

Thank you for your interaction today, enjoy tonight and come back to us at 07:00 BST tomorrow. My guess is there will probably be plenty to reflect on.

Former England striker Alan Shearer on World Football Focus

"It's been a fantastic tournament. The best I can remember in my short 43 years. We've had great goals, an amazing atmosphere and the football has been outstanding. Also, we've probably had the game of all games in that 7-1 semi-final."

Image source, Getty Images

Spain's long wait for a major international trophy had ended at Euro 2008 - and they followed it up by winning the biggest prize of all in South Africa two years later.

But they were given a rough time of it against the Netherlands - as was English referee Howard Webb, who issued 14 yellow cards, a record for a World Cup final.

Nigel de Jong was lucky to escape a red for a king-fu kick on Xabi Alonso, but John Heitinga was dismissed later on for picking up a second booking.

With a penalty shootout looming, Andres Iniesta scored to make Spain world champions.

And that brings us up to date. Will Germany v Argentina be a classic or a borefest? Watch live uninterrupted coverage on BBC One and online from 19:00 BST and listen to coverage on Radio 5 live.

If the two-hour wait for the final seems too long, tune into the BBC World Service at 18:06 BST for a special documentary on the tournament.

The show will reflect on how fans across the world have reacted to the tournament and you can listen on the BBC World Service website.

Gary Lineker
BBC Sport

Image source, AFP

BBC Sport's Gary Lineker writes he has been disappointed Lionel Messi's performances for Argentina at this World Cup.

He says: "I am the Argentina captain's biggest fan and he is the most wonderfully gifted player since Diego Maradona but, here in Brazil, I have been disappointed with what I have seen.

"Some people might say there is not much wrong with Messi at all, because Argentina are in the final and he has scored four goals to help get them there."

Former Spain and Barcelona defender Carles Puyol will present the trophy to tonight's winners and has described the act as "an honour."

"I never imagined I'd have the kind of career I've had, living a dream cherished by millions of children and doing what I enjoy most," says the 36-year-old. "Likewise, I never thought that the last act of my sporting career would be presenting the trophy, external at the World Cup final."

Puyol retired at Barcelona at the end of the season after 18 years and has been appointed assistant to director of football Andoni Zubizarreta.

Image source, PA

The central figure in the 1998 World Cup final, Zinedine Zidane was at it again against Italy in Berlin in 2006 - but with very different consequences.

Zidane, playing his final match before retirement, scored a seventh-minute penalty - but was then sent off for headbutting Marco Materazzi - who had earlier nodded the Azzurri level.

David Trezeguet was the only player to miss in the penalty shootout as Italian football - reeling in the wake of a recent domestic match-fixing scandal - received a major boost.

Throughout the day, Sportsday will be looking back at the World Cup finals from the past. One to go.

Former England winger Chris Waddle on World Football Focus

"Argentina will work hard when Germany cross the halfway line. They don't want Germany popping the ball around in their half. For me, Germany will dominate possession but you'll not find Argentina come at them like Brazil did. They will sit tight, stop the game as much as possible and play on the counter-attack for a set piece."

Image source, Getty Images

• No side have kept as many clean sheets as Argentina in the 2014 World Cup (four, Germany have three).

• Argentina are yet to concede a goal in the knock-out stages at this tournament (despite playing extra-time in two of their three games).

Image source, Getty Images

Germany - and before reunification, West Germany - had long been one of the most formidable forces in world football. So too had Brazil. Yet they had never faced each other in a competitive match until 2002.

Ronaldo, who suffered such disappointment in the 1998 final, had far more joy in Yokohama, opening the scoring after Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn - who had been outstanding throughout the tournament - spilled a Rivaldo shot.

The second goal also went to Ronaldo, who beat Kahn with an excellent side-footed shot.

With eight goals at the 2002 World Cup finals to add to four in 1998, Ronaldo grabbed another three in 2006 to overtake Gerd Muller as the tournament's all-time top scorer. It was a record he would hold until Germany's Miroslav Klose passed it in 2014 - against Brazil in Belo Horizonte.

Throughout the day, Sportsday will be looking back at the World Cup finals from the past. Two more to go.

A reminder that tonight is the last time you will see Alan Hansen on Match of the Day. He steps down after 22 years following the final.

In a special documentary, he has shed light on how he became a pundit, why he dodged football management and how he was gripped by nerves as a player. You can watch it on the BBC iPlayer.

Germany's Lukas Podolski tweets:, external "Now seriously, the hour is coming, we are provided with the support of all of you, this victory is not only ours, it belongs to us all."

The Golden Boot - awarded to the tournament's top scorer - will also be decided tonight and Germany's Thomas Muller knows a goal will almost certainly secure the award.

A single strike would put him level with Colombia's James Rodriguez on six goals, but if it is a tie, with more assists, Muller would become the first player to win the honour at two successive World Cups.

Lionel Messi also has hope on four goals.

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport in Rio

Image source, BBC Sport

It seems like half of Argentina is in Rio for the World Cup final and, according to two fans I met on the Copacabana, for many of them getting home is going to be more complicated than it was getting here.

Melisa Bodnar and Mario Abboud flew in from Buenos Aires on Saturday and said: "It is crazy. A lot of people we know that didn't have the money to get a plane, so they simply said OK I will take my car and drive for three days.

"A lot of people did take a plane to get here but after the final it is a big problem because there are no seats on the flights back. I think that for a week there will be a lot of people from Argentina here, trying to get back. We don't know when we will get home."

We are asking you for your five-a-side team chosen from players in tonight's squads. Now we know you may be a player, but you can only be a substitute in this team. Send them to #bbcworldcup and tell us why you pick the players.

Robert Brown:, external Messi Messi Messi Messi Messi

j.d. wyeth i verda:, external I'd have to go Romero GK, Neuer as sweeper, Mascherano Holding Mid, Muller and Messi up top.

Adam Palmer:, external Neuer, Kroos, Di Maria, Messi, Muller. Neuer the one man defence, the rest can attack.

Mark Pougatch
BBC Radio 5 live at the Maracana

Image source, BBC Sport

"Lovely day for the World Cup Final in Rio. We have some sort of closing ceremony thingy in the Maracana."

Three hours to go then. Remember, whether it be a dull draw, a shootout or a thriller, you need to enjoy this.

After today it is nearly four weeks until the start of the Championship season, so you will be football starved.

Image source, Getty Images

Ronaldo was Brazil's star player in their run to the 1998 World Cup final, but as kick-off approached at the Stade de France, it looked as if he wouldn't play.

The striker had suffered a fit on the eve of the match, and was initially left off the team-sheet - only to be reinstated just over an hour before the start.

Ronaldo clearly wasn't at his sharpest - and neither were Brazil, beaten by hosts France as Zinedine Zidane scored with two headers before Emmanuel Petit added a late third. France, who had failed to qualify for the 1994 finals, were world champions for the first time.

Throughout the day, Sportsday will be looking back at the World Cup finals from the past.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sport's football expert Mark Lawrenson: "There will be massive Argentina support, and they will love the fact this final is at the Maracana.

"I picked Argentina to win the World Cup before the tournament but I thought they would be better than they have been, and we are yet to see a stand-out performance from them.

"I just think Germany will have too much for them. What this German team is good at is probing your weakness and, once they spot it, boy do they give you an examination. Germany will be too well-drilled for them, and they will find a way through in the end."

Lawro's prediction: Germany 2-1 Argentina