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Messi made favourite for final man of the match

LIONEL MESSI is 5-2 favourite with Paddy Power to be named as the man of the match in Sunday’s World Cup final and he may not need to lift the trophy to take the Golden Ball award for the player of the tournament.

Argentina are 5-4 outsiders to be crowned world champions for the first time since 1986 and Messi is 6-4 to take the Golden Ball.

Messi scored twice in the last meeting between the teams in Frankfurt two years ago and German left-back Benedikt Howedes said: “Messi is one of the best players in the world but we have to defend as a team. We have to stifle his opportunities to score goal and create dangerous situations.”

As well as Messi, Germany may need to think about stopping  Angel di Maria. The Real Madrid man returned to training after a thigh injury on Thursday and continued his recovery on Friday.

Germany, 8-11 favourites to win the tournament, are expected to be unchanged for the third straight match.

Whatever happens one German is expected to pick up a trophy in Brazil with goalkeeper Manuel Neuer 1-5 to take the Golden Glove award.

Nicola Rizzoli has been announced as the referee for the final in Rio. The Italian arbiter had been 13-2 second favourite to get the gig for the showpiece game.

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