Wolves legend Steve Bull backs Germany to lift World Cup

The record Wolves scorer and former England international believes the momentum Joachim Lowe's excellent side generated with their amazing 7-1 humiliation of hosts Brazil in the semi-finals will help them become world champions in Rio de Janeiro.

"Germany turned it upside down with that win, but I think it will be a cagey final," said Bully.

"When Argentina played Holland they counteracted each other and ended up playing for penalties.

"But I think it will be a different game now because the Germans are on a roll, and the way they're going, I think they will turn them over easily.

"They've got well-known names in their team who keep doing the business year-in, year out.

"I just think they'll have too much quality, whereas Argentina only have one matchwinner, and one man doesn't make a team.

"Messi needs this moment but the way Holland set out the other night, they stopped him playing.

"Once that happened, his team-mates needed to step up their game to win it, but I think the Germans will be too powerful for them."

Bully's backing of the Germans was honed by their stunning 7-1 win in their semi-finals, which was the best match he has seen.

"I hate to say my favourite game involves Germany but the Germany-Brazil semi-final was superb," he said.

"Within 20 minutes the game turned and it was a case of bang, bang, bang – it reminded me of Newcastle away in 1990 when I scored four goals in 15-20 minutes.

"You couldn't take your eyes of the television and the way the Germans tore them apart it was absolutely unbelievable.

"I don't know if it was a case of Brazil not turning up and being shellshocked or Germany being too good, but the way the goals went in made it a great game.

"The Brazilian people must have been thinking 'what's going on?' because they were favourites to win it.

"It was humiliation and they should came away from it red-faced."

Bully has relished a tournament that will go down as arguably the best ever.

But while Germany and Argentina will contest the final, there's a Dutch flavour to his other favourite moments.

"One moment stands out and that was Robin Van Persie's headed goal against Spain – it was one of the best I've seen," he said.

"He had to look at the flight of the ball, keep his eye on it as well as look at the goalkeeper and dive and head it at the same time.

"That takes some doing and that was my goal of the World Cup – unless it's beaten in the final."

The Molineux idol has his own from this tournament thanks to the pace and goals of Holland forward Arjen Robben.

"For the way he's scored goals, the player of the tournament has got to be Arjen Robben – he's been superb," said the 49-year-old.

"He's covered every blade of grass, scored goals and been a threat, apart from the last game against Argentina, when both teams counter-acted each other and he was disappointing.

"But overall in the tournament he's done well.

"His theatrical diving is the only thing that lets him down but you have to put that to one side and look what he's actually done and he's contributed very well."