George Johnson predictions: Brazil-Argentina final too good to be true

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Given a unabated anger/anguish of a Brazilian open over Neymar’s fractured vertebrae and a romantic hopes for a sought-after hexa, there’s always a underlying fear of an officiating slant, given a locality and a stakes. Such are always a suspicions in top-level football.

The pick: If it’s on a up-and-up, Germany 2-1 over a law 90. Neymar’s and Silva’s absences simply too many for a good, not great, Brazilian side to overcome.

(FILES) These record photos taken during a 2014 FIFA World Cup and done into a multiple on Jul 7, 2014 uncover (L-R) Netherlands' brazen Arjen Robben during a Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo on Jun 23, 2014 and Argentina's brazen and captain Lionel Messi during Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo on Jul 1, 2014. The Netherlands will face Argentina in their 2014 FIFA World Cup semi-final football compare during a Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo on Jul 8.     AFP PHOTO / FILES / MARTIN BERNETTI / NELSON ALMEIDAMARTIN BERNETTI / NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images
These multiple photos show Netherlands’ brazen Arjen Robben, left, during a Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo on Jun 23, 2014 and Argentina’s brazen and captain Lionel Messi during Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo on Jul 1, 2014. The Netherlands will face Argentina in their 2014 FIFA World Cup semi-final football compare during a Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo on Jul 8. (MARTIN BERNETTI / NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images)

ARGENTINA VS. THE NETHERLANDS

(Wednesday, 3:45 p.m. ET, CBC)

Leo Messi finds himself a smallest 180 mins from immortality; a Dutch, losers in a final 4 years ago during South Africa, an matching time support divided from a long-overdue World Cup breakthrough.

Both these sides, drizzling with particular ability, have displayed that indispensable ability to close adult shop, grub divided and welcome piece over style. Expect that arrange of cagey, resolute, give-and-take in Sao Paulo.

The compare also pits a dual many impactful people remaining in a tournament, Arjen Robben and Messi head-to-head. One or a other, given their change for their particular nations and peerless gusto for a dramatic, is firm to establish a name of a second finalist for a Jul 13 final in Rio.

Each contingency make due but a pivotal component. For a Argentines, that would be successful Angel di Maria, ruled out due to a thigh injury. For a Netherlands, Nigel de Jong, a teeth of a midfield, misses his second compare with a groin strain.