AFTER a feast of football for the past month, the World Cup reaches its climax tomorrow night.

And fans from Germany and Argentina will each be hoping their country triumphs when the teams meet in the final at the Estádio Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro in a 8pm kick-off.

Oxford University student Chris Jacobi, 22, originally from Düsseldorf in Germany, believes his nation can win the World Cup for the fourth time after their 7-1 semi-final drubbing of hosts Brazil.

He said: “Obviously it was a bit unexpected but we were able to show how much has been invested into the team over the past few years and an opportunity to show off a bit.

“I think the final will be a very close and tense match but if we continue to perform and keep calm we can win.”

Mr Jacobi has been watching World Cup matches in the Oxford University Club.

He said: “It’s been great with all the different nationalities together watching each other’s games – it’s been the best part of the World Cup.”

Argentinian Esteban Cichello Hübner, a Spanish tutor at Oxford Tutorial College, said he predicted three months ago that Germany would play Argentina, but believes his side will lose.

He said: “History is cyclical and football is no exception. We’re going to see a repeat of the 1990 World Cup.

“It will be a boring and even match which Germany will win. I cried last time we lost to them but I’m more mature now.”

The Germany T-shirt and flag worn by Chris in our picture was provided by SportsDirect in the Westgate Centre

FINAL VERDICT

Chris Jacobi

  • Key player: Thomas Muller has been amazing and always gets goals
  • Opposition player to fear: Lionel Messi – we have to stop him and can’t let him dominate
  • Favourite moment: When Miroslav Klose scored against Ghana to equal the World Cup goalscoring record
  • Prediction: Germany 2-1

Esteban Cichello Hübner

  • Key player: Lionel Messi, of course. But he can’t win the match alone
  • Opposition player to fear: Thomas Muller is very fast – like a bird on the field
  • Favourite moment: Messi’s late goal against Iran and Di Maria’s against Switzerland

Prediction: Germany 1-0

WHEN ESTEBAN MET MARADONA
ARGENTINA fan Esteban Cichello Hübner brought national legend Diego Maradona to Oxford almost 20 years ago.

The man regarded as one of the world’s best-ever footballers visited the city to talk to students at the Oxford Union and stayed at the Macdonald Randolph Hotel on November 6, 1995.

About 2,000 people gathered in the debating chamber and outside as he spoke about how using drugs in his football career had been a “mistake”.

His appearance came after an invitation by Mr Cichello Hübner, president of the university’s Jewish L’Chaim Society at the time.

Mr Cichello Hübner sent letters to Maradona’s representatives asking if he would visit and was shocked when the former player called him to accept the invitation.

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Mr Cichello Hübner, pictured with Maradona, said: “It was the biggest event at the Oxford Union since the Queen visited in the 1960s.

“He’s a very nice, generous and intelligent person. I’ve seen him many times since then and there’s a mutual respect between us.”
 

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