Arguably the two most impressive sides at this year’s World Cup, playing an extremely attacking brand of football, the clash will (hopefully) be an exciting mix of flair and goals.

On Fire... Oezil and Mueller are running riot for Germany.

Mexico didn’t provide the sternest of tests for a powerful Argentinean side, and in their opponents so far (Nigeria, South Korea, Greece and Mexico) they have faced no real ‘big’ team with all due respect to the aforementioned teams. Germany will undoubtedly provide that though, having put four goals on the one team for the second time against England. But nonetheless, they’ve taken care of these opponents with ease and with Lionel Messi running the show; Maradona might just have to start getting ready for a run across Buenos Aries…

Germany has been remarkable in this tournament. Many were predicting the end for a youthful squad with old stars and mid-range performers, but now they will be eating their words as they have depicted the cream of counter attacking football. Young stars like Oezil and Mueller along with the ever-present Klose, the Germans have a balanced mix of youth and experience that all teams would crave.

But, let’s see what the stats have to say.

Head to Head Clashes: 18

ARG: 8
(goals scored: 25)

GER: 5
(goals scored: 23)

DRAW: 5

AVG. GOALS P/GAME: 2.66

Whilst Argentina have a slightly better win-loss record between the two, it should be noted that at the same time, Germany managed to score almost the same amount of goals as the South Americans.

How’s each countries World Cup form been of late though? Here’s a brief look at how each respective team has fared during this campaign and at their last two World Cup outings as well as their All-Time World Cup Ranking. (*both team’s last World Cup’s were at Germany 2006 and South Korea/Japan 2002)

ARGENTINA

Played: 12
W: 8
D: 3
L: 1
Win: 66%
Avg. Goals Scored P/Game: 1.91
Avg. Goals Conceded P/Game: 0.58
All-Time WC Ranking: 4th – W53%/L28% -15 Appearances – For/Against: 120/74 = +46

GERMANY

Played: 18
W: 13
D: 2
L: 3
Win: 72%
Avg. Goals Scored P/Game: 2.05
Avg. Goals Conceded P/Game: 0.61
All-Time WC Ranking: 2nd – W60%/L20% – 17 Appearances – For/Against: 195/115 = +80

Contrasting stats there, each team seeming to have the edge over the other in certain areas. But no doubt that Germany has the stronger record at World Cup’s in general. That will duly be tested when they come up against Argentina.

This one has goals written all over it, but considering the way such games have gone this World Cup (aka Brazil v Portugal), we’ll go for a surprisingly-low, 1-0 victory to the Germans. Let’s hope that Paul the octopus agrees with us too!!

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Gordon D'Mello

Gordon is a Journalism student at the University of Notre Dame, Sydney who has a huge passion in the field of sports writing and sport itself. Here he is a writer, senior editor and is also a co-founder of Injury Time.