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The performances of Javier Mascherano have made up for Argentina's 'fantastic four' failing to shine at the World Cup, according to South American football expert Tim Vickey.

"Gonzalo Higuain has looked very sluggish. Sergio Aguero has never been remotely close to full fitness, a problem which now afflicts Angel Di Maria. Even Lionel Messi is way off top condition," writes Vickery.

"Perhaps, then, the real star of Argentina's campaign has been Mascherano, 'the little boss' who keeps coming up big for his country when it really matters."

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The 1958 World Cup was the first to be televised around the globe - and marked the emergence of a 17-year-old Brazilian called Pele as his country were crowned champions for the first time.

Hosts Sweden scored first in the final, but Brazil were in front at half-time, and Pele struck twice after the break as his team ran out 5-2 winners. The first of those goals - in which he chipped the ball over a defender before drilling past a helpless keeper - remains among the greatest scored in a World Cup final. At full-time, the teenager broke down in tears of joy.

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

Stephen Shaw:, external Argentina: happy with either but more Argentine friends. And Low is starting to sound like Scolari... pride comes before a fall.

Matt Williams:, external Pressure to not be the nearly-men of modern football will get to Germany. Narrow Argentina win.

Dean Evans:, external I think Argentina as long Messi can control the game which he hasn't quite done yet.

Image source, AFP

German legend Franz Beckenbauer, who won the World Cup as a player in 1974 and manager in 1990, says he cannot recall a final where a country have been such overwhelming favourites.

He says on Twitter:, external "It feels quite strange: I can't remember when the prediction for a World Cup final was so clear. All speaks for the @DFB_Team #GERARG"

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Those who saw it insist that the 1954 meeting between West Germany and Hungary in Switzerland was one of the finest World Cup finals there has been.

In heavy rain, favourites Hungary were two goals up in eight minutes thanks to Ferenc Puskas and Zoltan Czibor. But the Germans were level within 10 minutes thanks to Max Morlock and Helmut Rahn - who scored the late winner. Against huge odds, it was West Germany's first World Cup triumph and, to this day, the match is known as 'The Miracle of Berne'.

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

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Italian Nicola Rizzoli will referee tonight's World Cup final between Germany and Argentina.

Rizzoli, an architect from Bologna, has taken charge of three matches at this year's tournament in Brazil.

He will become the third Italian referee to officiate a final, after Sergio Gonella in 1978 and Pierluigi Collina in 2002.

Image source, Clarin

Argentina's newspapers are, unsurprisingly, giving plenty of front page space to the World Cup final. Clarin has an image of Ezequiel Lavezzi, Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria preparing for the big game.

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It's well known that Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella played for Sheffield United between 1978 and 1980 before spending just over a year at Leeds - so what was he like?

Former Nottingham Forest and Portsmouth boss Paul Hart, who played alongside Sabella at Leeds, tells BBC Radio 5 live: "He was a great lad. He was very humble and always had a smile on his face. He fitted in quite quickly and we liked him. He'd had two years in the north with Sheffield United and he came to us.

"He probably came to us at the wrong time. We were not one of the great Leeds sides. He suffered for that, I feel. But he was instantly popular."

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Former Brazil midfielder Gilberto Silva believes Germany will lift the World Cup this evening.

"Germany have an advantage because they played the day before Argentina and also didn't have extra time," he says.

"Both teams deserves to be there in the final. It's two traditional teams. I hope for a good game but I think Germany will win."

JB: My lovely girlfriend is German and she said they would win it from the start. They have also played the best football and never really looked like they would lose.

Henry in London: Argentina to win. Germany were superb against Brazil but against other teams they didn't show their full potential. All that has to happen is Germany to slip up and Argentina are in with a good shout of lifting the World Cup

Liam in Glasgow: I can't see past Germany for the final. On the whole they have been an efficient and clinical team, despite an average performance against Ghana. One thing we can't overlook though is that Lionel Messi is playing in the World Cup final - the biggest game of his life. When you have the best player on the planet in your team, anything is possible. 3-2 Germany.

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The 2014 World Cup in Brazil has given us some truly wonderful images and we've put together a gallery of some of the best pictures from the past month for your consumption.

Image source, @MesutOzil1088

Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil has posted a picture of himself, Sami Khedira and Benedikt Howedes looking relaxed before tonight's final.

He says on Twitter:, external "We are ONE team & we are ready! #DFBTeam #WorldCup #GERARG

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There wasn't a World Cup final as such in Brazil in 1950 as, for the only time in the tournament's history, the four best teams played off against each other in a four-team pool.

The last match in the group, between the hosts and Uruguay, ended up being the decider though - and so was effectively the final in all but name. At the newly built Maracana, Alcides Ghiggia's winner for Uruguay stunned Brazil.

The all-white strip that Brazil wore during that tournament was deemed unpatriotic as the nation dissected the defeat - and that brought about the birth of their famous yellow and blue strip.

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

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Former Brazil midfielder Gilberto Silva thinks coach Luiz Felipe Scolari will be out of job in the near future.

A decision as to whether he continues as Brazil manager will be made by the president of the country's football association.

"I don't know if he's going to stay. It's hard because we don't have continuity," he says.

"When we won the World Cup in 2002 he should have stayed instead of going to Portugal. I don't think he will stay, I don't think so."

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Former Brazil midfielder Gilberto Silva believes there needs to be a greater investment in coaching to help Brazilian football return to its glory days.

He says: "The people who administrate football in Brazil must pay attention more on coaching schools and academy schools. We have to improve many things. If you have a good coach school they will teach the young players the proper way.

"We also have to consider our tactics. Everyone knows each other now. 10 years ago maybe we could get by, but now teams know how to cope with the way we play. I think we have to do this very quickly."

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One of the odder World Cup-related stories to emerge today: Amjad Hossain, a 65-year-old farmer in Bangladesh, has made a 2.2 mile-long flag German flag as a sign of support in tonight's World Cup final.

The massive flag was displayed on Saturday at a stadium in the western town of Magura and was visited by Ferdinand von Weyhe, from the German embassy in Bangladesh.

Hossain has told the news agency AFP that he started making the flag in 2006 - and that he became a German fan out of gratitude after he recovered from a gall bladder stone problem by taking homeopathic medicine made in Germany.

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Champions four years earlier, Italy retained their title in Paris in 1938, helped by two goals from their star centre-forward Silvio Piola.

It was the second time coach Vittorio Pozzo had masterminded a World Cup victory - and he claimed afterwards that the team who beat Hungary were better than the side who had lifted the trophy on home soil in 1934.

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

Image source, Charlie Rowlands

The front page of Argentine newspaper La Capita goes with the headline: 'Argentina go for glory against Germany for a historic title in the legendary Maracana.'

Craig Warner:, external Said all along, the German side will win the cup, because they all know they can and aren't relying on one player

Caitlin S-C:, external Can't see Argentina breaking through the efficient German machine but I hope they do as the last few games have been horrendous.

Byron Wilkinson:, external Germans are arrogantly confident. The pundits don't give Argentina a prayer. It means only one thing: a win for the Argies.

Image source, Diario Norte

Argentine newspaper Diario Norte, external leads with the headline 'A tocar el cielo' which translates as 'touch the sky!' alongside a picture of Lionel Messi.