Fearless Löw

Should you really believe him? Joachim Löw sits on the podium for the press conference, the last one before the day that should crown his career, trying to downplay everything. "For me personally it's not the greatest challenge, there have been others that were similar," said Löw, trying to put Sunday's match at the Maracana into some kind of context.

The World Cup final? Not the greatest challenge? First you doubt it, but then it becomes clear: Löw means it. "Every knockout match is always a really special challenge for a coach, if you know you have to win to advance," he said. Löw, who the press here have dubbed "Mr. Cool," will do anything ahead of the final to keep the team's feet on the ground.

Anyone who has followed Löw during the last few weeks, from the team's training camp in Austria to the base in Santo Andre to the final here in Rio de Janeiro, can detect a certain continuity. His words and body language deliver a similar message. The coach lives what he speaks, and speaks what he lives. He's at peace, acts confident, is unfazed by criticism, and believes his players should be especially focused.

Löw expects an 'uncanny fight'

He knows what to expect and that's exactly why it doesn't faze him. "This will be a thrilling final with an uncanny fight," said Löw, who believes Argentina are "much better organized than in 2010," when Germany dumped the South Americans out of the World Cup with a 4-0 defeat in the quarterfinals.

Löw has warned against the offensively and defensively strong Argentines, but on the outside he remains totally calm. "I'm really not scared. It will be a match between two teams who have always delivered a thrilling duel," said Löw.

Of course that's not quite true. He's in the World Cup final for the first time as Germany coach and has a huge chance to write his name in the history books. Were he to win the tournament, Löw would become one of football crazy Germany's most-respected personalities. He's aware of the historic opportunity and wants to finally put the haunting spirit of just playing beautiful football behind him and become a truly successful coach.

'Not just Messi'

"We are convinced that if we bring our quality to the match, if our players go for it, then we will win," said a confident Löw, adding it would also obviously be "an additional joy" to become to the first European team in history to win a World Cup held in South America. Löw wants to write history.

Only the Argentines stand in the way. But what does that mean exactly? Argentina have impressed many in this World Cup, including the Germany coach, who has praised the defensive discipline of the Abiceleste. You can see, he said, that above all Argentina play strong and compact defensively.

And offensively? "This team is not just Messi," Löw made clear. "If you think that, you're making a mistake." Gonzalo Higuian, Sergio Aguero and - if he's fit - Angel di Maria are a trio of world-class footballers in their own right.

And what if Germany lose?

Despite all of Argentina's class, Löw seems confident that Germany's fate is in their own hands, not those of their opponents. "We have become more mature now as a team, we have shown what lies within us. We have continued to improve over the last few year," he said. In other words, the time has come.

Thus the World Cup title is the only option for Löw. He's trying to take pressure off his team and put it squarely on his own shoulders when he says that, in the case of a defeat, "not everything will be in ruins." It'd obviously be disappointing, said Löw, "but this team and German football have a future." He wouldn't reveal whether that future includes him or not, but there's plenty of evidence that his journey won't end here in Rio.