...not so fast!

There's only one i to dot, and no t's to cross at all, in the phrase "World Cup winners," but Germans should keep their pencil hovering over the pages of history for a few more days anyway. Lionel Messi and pals still pose a hefty threat to Joachim Löw's side, despite failing to set Sao Paulo alight in the goalless semifinal against the Netherlands.

No missing Messi

Unlike his Brazilian Barcelona teammate Neymar, Lionel Messi will carry the hopes of a nation on a healthy set of vertebrae at the Maracana on Sunday. Argentina have lost a game-changer too, namely Angel di Maria, but the Albiceleste are not likely to go into the final already dejected and downtrodden as Brazil did the semis.

That's not where the Messi-Neymar disparities end. Catalonia's "atomic flea" is no competition debutant; the 27-year-old has twice tasted disappointment at German hands in the World Cup. Just a teenager, Messi watched the penalty-shootout exit of 2006 from the bench, but he had a first-hand view of the 4-0 capitulation in Cape Town four years ago.

Messi's meager tally of one World Cup goal heading into Brazil was a black mark on his near-flawless curriculum vitae. Yes, he's Barcelona's record scorer and a four-time world player of the year, home fans would say. Okay, Messi's also scored more goals for his country than the previous magician wearing number 10, Diego Maradona. But unlike the two-time finalist and one-time winner "El Pibe de Oro" (literally: "The Golden Boy"), Messi's midas touch seemed lacking in sky blue and white - never had he taken the Albiceleste past the last eight.

Now he has. And Argentina's top scorer and captain - also arguably the best player who will take to the pitch on Sunday - can equal Maradona's World Cup legacy. While he's at it, Messi has the chance to avenge Maradona's 1990 disappointment against Germany as a player, and his rather more self-inflicted 2010 disappointment as Argentina's coach.

Besides Messi, goalie Sergio Romero was on the pitch in Cape Town, along with Gonzalo Higuain, Javier Mascherano, Sergio Aguero, Martin Demichelis, and others. All of them might like a slice of "Rache," "venganza," or vengeance.

Difficult defense

Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal on Wednesday lamented that his side failed to carve out any real chances in the semifinal. "That says something about Argentina's team," van Gaal said, noteworthy praise from the coach who unlocked Mexico and Costa Rica, while organizing a pretty parsimonious back-five of his own.

In 120 minutes, the Dutch forced Sergio Romero into just one save. It's remarkable he was still so wide awake for the spot kicks. Despite leaving plenty to be desired individually, Argentina's back-four (plus midfield anchor Javier Mascherano) play as a cohesive unit, never having to wait long for yet more defensive reinforcements. Even Messi and his partner behind striker Gonzalo Higuain, Ezequiel Lavezzi against the Netherlands, are expected to muck in at the back.

Ghana, Algeria, and the US - even France to a certain extent - have all shown that Germany's attack can be disrupted like any other by an intensive and collective effort at the back.

Brazil hangover for new home favorites?

Germany's preparations for this final could scarcely be more surreal - having received essentially a semifinal bye when Brazil self-destructed in half an hour. As the German press swooned, and international fans slapped the "favorites" label squarely onto Philipp Lahm and co., some members of die Nationalmannschaft might have chuckled to consider the negative headlines following tough games against Ghana or Algeria.

Germany have only truly shone twice at the World Cup - with Portugal and Brazil both waving the white flag long before half time to enable the routs. Might Joachim Löw and his coaching staff have preferred a truer test of mettle before the Maracana?

Bizarrely, Germany can probably rely on home support in the final, given that they are facing Brazil's arch-rivals Argentina. Having spurned the hosts' hospitality so completely with that first-half display, Germany could complete Brazil's tragic World Cup tale by fluffing their lines against the old enemy in Rio.

The odd Brazilian boo is only liable to spur on the sky blue and whites to try to win the World Cup in the spiritual home of the Selecao.