Russian President Vladimir Putin is attending both the final match and the closing ceremony of the World Cup in Brazil on Sunday, as his country prepares to take on the responsibility of hosting the tournament in four years' time. Putin is one of about 80,000 fans attending the winner-takes-all match at the Macarana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, with the game between Germany and Argentina expected to pull in millions more television viewers worldwide.
The Moscow Times: Putin attending World Cup finale in Brazil
Combo image of the statue of Christ the Redeemer illuminated in the colors of Argentina's (L) and Germany's (R) national flags atop Corcovado hill in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 12, 2014 on the eve of the FIFA World Cup 2014 final match between Argentina and Germany.
