CRI听力:Germany Tempers Expectations for World Cup Final

Anticipation is growing as the world awaits the final of the World Cup.

After thrashing World Cup hosts Brazil 7-1 in the semi-final earlier this week, Germany might well be considered the favorite to take down Argentina.

However, assistant coach Hansi Flick is trying to temper expectations.

"Argentina is a team with a very compact defence, which defends very well and of course - in Messi - has an extraordinary forward. Of course, many say that Germany is the favourite for this final, but a final always has its own rules and conditions and I believe the team is strong enough not to think too much about this role."

German striker Miroslav Klose is also trying to downplay his becoming the World Cup's all-time record scorer with his 16th goal during their semi-final against Brazil.

"This will be a completely new match and we have to give our best again. It is a final, no doubt and I know how crappy it feels to lose a final. I am full of confidence that this time it is actually our turn and that we are able to win this game."

Germany has made it to two of the past four World Cup finals, but have not won the title since West Germany beat Argentina in 1990.

And it has been confirmed that over 10 Heads of State are expected to attend Sunday's final in Rio de Janeiro's Maracana stadium.

Among them will be Argentina's Cristina Kirchner and Germany's Angela Merkel, as well as Russia's Vladimir Putin and South Africa's Jacob Zuma.