Source: Alexandre Schneider/Getty Images South America-Zimbo
Last time Brazil faced anyone to earn that final elusive title that they have never won, the Olympic gold, they faced Mexico and in 1984 and 1988 respectively they lost to France and the then Soviet Union.
Now with the Olympics in South America for the first time Brazil has that added support of thousands of fans to cheer on a nation that has recently had little to cheer about with their football.
In a summer where Brazilian star Neymar avoided the Copa America to focus on the Olympics the tournament looked at one point as though the hosts would be bowing out.
Instead they beat Denmark 4-0 to reach the knockout stage. Followed by a 2-0 win over Columbia and a 6-0 demolition of Honduras. Brazil has awoken from a slumber that could mean restored fortunes in the senior national team side.
Luhn and Neymar dropping deeper to connect with the midfield and that has allowed the attack of Brazil to find success when in their first two group stage matches they ended 0-0 with nothing to offer the neutral.
But Brazil has a chance to eliminate two demons. First is that in the famous Maracana stadium they can erase the pain of the 1950 debacle losing in the final to Uruguay. Second that 7-1 loss to Germany in the semifinal of the 2014 World Cup.
For Germany there is a similar story in that the team struggled early in the group stage. Defensively conceding two goals to Mexico and three to South Korea they were only saved via their effective attack.
Horst Hrubesch was part of the 1972 team that contained 10 players who would play for then West Germany and win the 1974 World Cup. A squad highlighted by Ottmar Hitzfeld(more know as a coach), Manfred Kaltz, and Uli Hoeness. Other players could be listed who made over 300 appearances for their clubs over their careers. That squad did not earn a gold medal.
To put it mildly to get so close and not get the gold Hrubesch has constructed a team full of players who are already key elements in their Bundesliga clubs and have experienced much. This is in a way the chance for the next batch of players to show they are ready to join the senior side for 2018 World Cup, pending qualification.
This has set up a magnificent final for a tournament that is hampered by European clubs not being obliged to send their players. Each with a point to prove and perhaps to perform an exorcism on demons that are allowed to haunt nations years after.
Prediction: Germany 2-1, not the 7-1 thumping but an early goal sets Germany up nicely
