13/07/2014 Newsround

The biggest day in the world football calendar -

And we take a look back at Ronaldo the Newsround parrot's finest

First up, more than one billion people around the world are expected

to tune in and watch the biggest football match on the

Last-minute preparations are under way as Germany prepare to take

Germany will be hot favourites after some stunning performances, but

as the BBC's South American footy expert explains for Newsround, it

A year before Lionel Messi was born, Argentina beat Germany

In the next final, when he was three years old, Germany beat Argentina.

Now Lionel Messi is 27, at the peak of his powers.

If this is the decider in a best of three, Argentina's best hope is

that Lionel Messi can find a flash of inspiration

To all of their traditional virtues, they have

They were more Brazilian than Brazil in Tuesday's unbelievable

Argentina have yet to fire on all cylinders.

But they've had a couple of days to try to get Angel di Maria fit, to

get Sergio Aguero close to 100%, but their best chance is that in the

biggest game of his life, Lionel Messi, that little man, can rub the

magic wand and come up with a moment of magic. If not, Germany

will be the first European team to win a World Cup in South America.

Over on the Newsround website, we've been asking for

Jacob in Norfolk thinks Germany will win it because they deserve it

Breffni in London, though, is predicting a good night

He reckons it'll be 1-0 with Messi to score.

Thanks so much for all those comments - keep them rolling in.

As well as your lovely comments, there's loads more World Cup

That's where you'll also find the last EVER World Cup fact of the day.

So you're backing both sides - but what do German fans think?

At one stadium in Berlin, fans have been creating a giant living room

for their team's matches, complete with their own sofas.

Are they scared of Argentina and that man Messi?

Argentina has some excellent footballers, or players,

but the whole team for Germany works together and wins together.

Lionel Messi is just one person, and we have a team.

If we lose one player, it is not a problem for us.

If Argentina lose Messi, they have no chance.

Move aside Gary Lineker - there's only been one footie expert

grabbing everyone's attention during the World Cup.

Ronaldo the Newsround parrot has a magical gift.

It's said by us that he can predict the result of football

matches more accurately than any other newsroom-based parrot.

After tonight's final, we'll have to say goodbye to

Ronaldo, but first, let's remind ourselves of his World Cup journey.

Ronaldo the parrot got off to a great start with his predictions,

but it was not good news for England fans. He picked Italy and he

required to build -- beeper England, and he was spot-on. Rinaldo returned

for the quarterfinals in a confident mood, however he started to lose his

way. He got most of his predictions wrong, and even chose Costa Rica to

be the Netherlands. We think Rinaldo was just having an off day. He was

back on form in time for the semis by predicting both winners. So all

that is left for Ronaldo is the big one. The World Cup final between

Germany and Argentina. But if he is right, you are wrong. Doesn't

matter? For the last few weeks, this special parrot has won a place in

our hearts. Thank you, Rinaldo. We will miss you.

And you can see Ronaldo's last-ever prediction in

Hundreds of sailors have arrived back in London almost a year

after setting off on the world's longest yacht race.

Yachts in the round-the-world event had to battle hurricanes as

Back in March, he fell overboard, and it took an hour

Luckily his team tracked him down and brought him to safety.

Next, it's thought the UK Government could be about to reveal plans to

base Britain's first ever spaceport in Scotland.

A top UK minister has hinted that Scotland is being considered

as the home for a dedicated port for sending missions into space.

It's hoped the plans will be up and running by 2018.

The people who want a yes vote for an independent Scotland say

independence would be good for the Scottish space industry.

Finally, a diary written by Queen Victoria

when she was a girl is due to go on display at Buckingham Palace.

In it, the then princess describes herself as sometimes "very naughty".

The pages, written in Queen Victoria's own

handwriting, will feature alongside toys and children's outfits as part

of a Royal Childhood Exhibition which opens later this summer.

Newsround's right back here just before 2.00.