Cochineas is Archon, and Germany are World Champions

 2014 World Football Champions, Germany.
Germany defeated Argentina 1-0, at the famous Maracana on July 13, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
(Photo by Mike Hewitt - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

2014 FIFA WORLD CUP 

F4M ARCHON

COCHINEAS J

The Moment: Mario Goetze scores Germany's World Cup winning goal past Sergio Romero of Argentina in extra time which gave the
Germans their fourth title, and Jeremy Cochineas the Archonship.

As Mario Gotze sent the ball into the Argentine net in the 113 minute of extra time there was one Mate, and a few million Germans jumping in ecstasy. Germany's 1 -0 success in this morning's final against Argentina ended a fantastic tournament for not only Germany, the world watching, our mates being part of F4M, but importantly, Cochineas, who has pulled off, incredibly, two straight five point predictions to jump Luke at the last hurdle, and claim the 2014 F4M Archonship. No doubt Cochineas, in the face of defeat, your ancestors would be proud of this great comeback. Today's final was no doubt an epic with two of the best teams in the competition and now, the world.  Unfortunately there was no fairy tale ending for either Messi or, our Runner-up Luke, who was within touching distance of glory, and has now come in second for two consecutive tournaments. Well done also to Benjamin, who ran a good campaign to come in third. However, Brazil 2014 will be remembered for Germany's victory, and Cochineas' success.

"I'd like to thank all the mates but particularly Like and Motto (Benjamin) for making it an exciting tournament. Mostly I'd like to thank Nestor for his contribution to making the greatest sporting event on Earth even more enjoyable. While the cash is nice, it's more exciting to be now immortalised in the F4M folklore".
Jeremy Cochineas, 2014 World Cup Archon

It has truly been a joy to bring another installment of Football4Mates, and we truly hope that you enjoyed the football predictions and experience which brought every game to life in the quest of achieving glory. The competition has been relatively close for the majority of the tournament with almost all the Mates having some expectation of achieving nike right up till the end of the Quarter Final where many of us unfortunately fell completely off the rails. Two things have become certain by the end of this 2014 tournament. One; that it is becoming near impossible for an Archon to defend the title. Two; the reputation of the hosts Brazil has been spectacularly damaged both on and off the field, which is a sad way to finish but as the Athenians said in the incredible Melian dialogue, "do not rely on hope".

So where does Football4Mates go from here? Well unless I find find myself trekking on some Ancient Historical expedition, or enjoying life on my olive orchard overlooking the Mediterranean (which I do not have), we'll be back for another installation of our competition in two years time, where Jason T will be defending his Euro Archonship in France 2016, and Jeremy will hope to achieve what has been to date an unaccomplished feat.  Hopefully all of us will be a tad wiser, and most importantly, healthy and well. Below is the table for some of you to enjoy, or lament. Hence, for the time being, adeus from Brazil.

	Brazil 2014	O	B	TOTAL
1	Cochineas	70	27	97
2	Luke C	66	30	96
3	Benjamin	76	15	91
4	Alexander	70	18	88
5	Jason T	66	21	87
6	Joe S	80	6	86
7	Yianni	68	15	83
8	Si Webb	64	18	82
9	Dung	68	12	80
10	Andy	58	21	79
11	Nicholas M	58	21	79
12	Harry Potter	58	21	79
13	Nestor	60	18	78
14	Aramis	66	9	75
15	George K	66	9	75
16	Stylianos	60	9	69
17	Rayment	50	9	59

F4M, France Euro 2016, who will prevail?

Final Preview: Germany v Argentina

Surprisingly none of the Top 5 have gone for that "Risk Everything" slogan, as all five Mates have predicted the Germans to win the 2014 World Cup. This means that it's game on between Luke and Cochineas for the Archonship, and Cochineas and Benjamin for second place. Unfortunately for Alexander and Jason, their lack of risk rules them out of a Top 3 finish. 

So good luck to the Top 3 and everyone else who is in a personal
dual with another Mate. 

Top 5 Predictions

Luke (94): Germany 2-0

Cochineas (92): Germany 1-0

Benjamin (89): Germany 2-1

Alexander (86): Germany 2-1

Jason T (85): Germany 3-1

Nestor Argentina 2 Germany 1

Prize

1st  - 60%

2nd - 25%

3rd - 15%

In 1986 Diego Maradona became a football immortal against West Germany. On Monday morning, Lionel Messi will face the same opponent for his chance of emulating this feat, and more importantly, capture Argentina's third World Cup. For the Germans, who will start the game as the favorites, will it be fourth time lucky in this their eighth World Cup Final?

Lothar Herbert Matthäus leads West Germany in 1990 against Argentina

Diego Maradona's Argentina Triumphs in 1986 against West Germany

MATCH DAY 23: Argentina set up a third World Cup Final showdown with Germany

Maxi Rodriguez (bottom R) of Argentina celebrates after scoring with goalkeeper, Sergio Romero (L&R), the hero of the penalty shootout during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Semi Final match between Netherlands and Argentina 

at Arena de Sao Paulo on July 9, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. 

(Photo by Shaun Botterill - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

An incredible prediction by Cochineas this morning in tipping the result for the second Semi Final. This means the destiny of the Archonship will be decided on the greatest sporting stage on the planet. Warning; digression into a rant coming: I really want to emphasis this 'Greatest Sporting Stage on the Planet', as my mind boggles as to what sort of a country we live in when this morning's newspapers carry the headline of an irrelevant, and useless egg ball game that was apparently played last night. To put things into perspective, 35.2 million tweets were made during and in the aftermath of yesterday's extraordinary game, yet all we have to talk about was this nonsensical two dimensional thing played with one's hands, brainlessly running continuously in one direction, and throwing the ball, with your hands, either left or right, and THAT'S IT. Enough on that. But how must Luke be feeling at the moment ? Surely a tad like Captain Stevie G, from that other team in the EPL that wears red, after that amazing game against Crystal Palace in the season which ended eons ago. There is simply nothing better than drama for what has been an excellent tournament. Now there is everything to play for come Monday morning. Three players, including Benjamin who also predicted the outcome of today's game will be nervously having to not only predict the game, and the score, but also have to take into consideration their two competitors. Ben will also have to keep in mind Alexander who is hovering there in fourth place, three points behind, and with an outsiders chance, Euro Archon, Jason T, who has had an incredible resurgence in the knockout stages of the tournament, being far and away the highest scorer. We will give everyone a few days break before Monday morning's final to make their predictions (due Sunday) hoping that all three Mates will predict different outcomes, and or scores. Benjamin needs five points, provided the Top 2 fail to get anything as he has a superior Outcomes record. Luke will be biting his nails to see what both Benjamin and Jeremy (Cochineas) have chosen, but knowing his competitive and fare nature I'm sure he will want to win this in style, as will Cochineas. Fingers crossed that all three Mates' predictions will keep the competition alive for what will be an epic clash between two great rivals of WORLD football. Monday's final is of course repeats of the 1986 World Cup Final (Mexico), won 3-2 by Argentina, and the 1990 Final (Italy), where what was meant to be a stronger German team required a penalty to beat Maradona (1-0). 

Try and get your tip before Sunday night so we can let everyone know what the Top 5, and in particular, the
Top 3, have gone for. 

Finally F4M would like to congratulate a Mate who somehow finds himself outside the Top 3, yet has had an incredible tournament with his OUTCOME predictions, let down only by his three points collected in Bonuses.

Congratulations 

Joe S

	Brazil 2014	O	B	TOTAL
1	Luke C	64	30	94
2	Cochineas	68	24	92
3	Benjamin	74	15	89
4	Alexander	68	18	86
5	Jason T	64	21	85
6	Yianni	68	15	83
7	Joe S	78	3	81
8	Si Webb	62	18	80
9	Andy	58	21	79
10	Nestor	60	18	78
11	Dung	66	12	78
12	Nicholas M	56	21	77
13	Harry Potter	56	21	77
14	Aramis	66	9	75
15	George K	64	9	73
16	Stylianos	60	9	69
17	Rayment	50	9	59

Preview: Predictions for Semi Final No.2

Semi Final No.2: Argentina v Nethelands

 (Photos by Shaun Botterill & Lars Baron - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Luke is going to make things exciting tomorrow morning by being the only player from the top 3 to go for an Argentina victory, which if it comes through, would wrap up the Archonship. Cochineas and Benjamin need five points to give themselves a chance in the final. 

Our Top 3 have gone for the following:

Luke Argentina 1-0

Benjamin 1 -1

Cochineas 0 - 0

My tip is a stab in the dark Dutch 1-0 victory. 

Good Luck

		O	B	TOTAL
1	Luke C	64	30	94
2	Benjamin	72	15	87
3	Cochineas	66	21	87
4	Alexander	66	18	84
5	Yianni	68	15	83
6	Jason T	62	21	83
7	Si Webb	62	18	80
8	Andy	58	21	79
9	Joe S	76	3	79
10	Nestor	60	18	78
11	Nicholas M	56	21	77
12	Harry Potter	56	21	77
13	Dung	64	9	73
14	George K	64	9	73
15	Aramis	64	9	73
16	Stylianos	60	9	69
17	Rayment	50	9	59