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With 5 world titles between them, Argentina and Germany are two of the world’s toppest national teams. Their latest clash is studded with high expectations, with both sides in magnificent form and memories of Germany’s penalty shoot out win four years back, still fresh.

Argentina have been in outstanding form this World Cup, winning all of their group round matches before downing Mexico in the last 16 gamed. Much questioned before the World event, it looks like coach Diego Maradona have identified his best line-up, one that naturally includes Lionel Messi, who saw most of his Germany 2006 tour from the benches. The Argentinians can also take heart from their 1-0 win over Germans in a friendly in Munich, lat March. The sole goal of the game was netted by Gonzalo Higuain, who has been in terrific form in South Africa.

In the last eight successively for an amazing 15th time, Germany topped Group D despite a surprise stunner by Serbia. Impressive against both Australia and Ghana, Die Nationalmannschaft turned on the power against England in the round of 16, inflicting an emphatic 4-1 defeat on the English team. Argentina and Germany have met five times before in the competition’s history. The Germans hold sway with three victories to Argentina’s solitary win in the Mexico 1986 Final. The other game, a group match at England 1966, ended in a goalless draw.