The World Cup Final can do funny things to people. Here's Argentina fan Daniel Venezia dressed as the Pope being carried around Rio, accompanied by a large sky blue rabbit
This certainly isn't the final the Brazilian public wanted to see on their own soil, but it's a tasty prospect for the rest of us nonetheless. Heaven knows what he paid for this ticket. Safe to say it wasn't cheap
The celebrities in the crowd are ten-a-penny. Kaka, Pele and David Beckham are causing much commotion by swanning about together
The pre-match antics feature Colombian pop star Shakira
Former Spanish international Carles Puyol walks out with supermodel Gisele Bundchen. Inside that Louis Vuitton box is the World Cup trophy. Any need for the box? Didn't think so
Sami Khedira has somehow managed to injure himself in the build up and is ruled out
Lionel Messi's shirt hangs in the Argentina dressing room. Unluckily for Germany, he's in fine fettle
Photographers are herded into position ready for the teams to arrive into the pitch
The two teams shake hands before kick-off
Germany's forward Miroslav Klose tries to beat the challenge of Argentina's midfielder Javier Mascherano as the game gets underway
Thomas Mueller of Germany looks to go past Ezequiel Garay of Argentina in the penalty box. It's been a high tempo opening thus far
Martin Demichelis of Argentina challenges Bastian Schweinsteiger
Germany's young midfielder Christoph Kramer, who is replacing Khedira, lies injured after a collision with Garay's shoulder. It'll be ironic if he has to come off
but eventually he's back on his feet
In the 20th minute, Gonzalo Higuain misses a plum chance for Argentina. He's played clean through by a terrible attempt at a header back to the keeper from Toni Kroos. Higuain shanks his effort horribly wide. Boy, will he regret that
Higuain atones for his earlier miss by slamming home from six yards in the 30th minute following Lavezzi's sumptuous cross ... but the linesman rightly rules him offside
Lionel Messi finds himself surrounded as he tries to enter the German penalty box
