World Cup 2014 Open Thread - Final

In the contest for final supremacy among the globe's soccer nations two of the grandest take the stage. Argentina sits on soil that is both familiar and unfriendly. They are led by a single man who can stake the claim to be the greatest in the history of the sport. Germany is different. There is a challenge for European squads outside of Europe. Travel and weather hit them in ways for which it is impossible to prepare. But this Germany is a machine, with some great parts of their own.

It's our Final World Cup Open Thread. After today it is gone. International soccer will slow down while MLS will be the forefront, but there is much more international soccer to come. The US Women start their quest for another title with qualification this Fall. The Gold Cup is a year away. The 100th Copa America is two years out. The Olympics are in Brazil and two years out. Sounders and Seattle soccer players will be involved in all of those.

I could be sad about the end of the World Cup. Moments like Clint's under-30-second goal and DeAndre's great performance; Neymar's broken back and the German dismantling of the hosts; magical James for Colombia and the hope of Algeria will be remembered for ages.

Today, one of the greatest soccer powers in the world will gain another star. The rest of us will be left with different legacies.