World Cup 2014 final: Vladimir Putin takes seat next to Sepp Blatter at the Maracana

Germany playing Argentina in the final

Simon Rice
Monday 14 July 2014 01:54 BST
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Sepp Blatter takes his seat for the World Cup final along with Vladimir Putin
Sepp Blatter takes his seat for the World Cup final along with Vladimir Putin (GETTY IMAGES)

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Wielding incredible power and prone to the odd gaffe, Vladimir Putin and Sepp Blatter share quite a bit in common.

Which is useful as it'll give them something to talk about during the World Cup final.

The pair were pictured seated next to one another ahead of the final between Germany and Argentina at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

It was a star-studded collection of dignitaries that collected together for the final. Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff took her seat on the other side of Fifa president Blatter whilst German chancellor Angela Merkel and German president Joachim Gauck were a little further down the row.

Sepp Blatter takes his seat for the World Cup final along with German chancellor Angela Merkel, German president Joachim Gauck and Vladimir Putin
Sepp Blatter takes his seat for the World Cup final along with German chancellor Angela Merkel, German president Joachim Gauck and Vladimir Putin (GETTY IMAGES)

The final at the Maracana was the culmination of a month of football in Brazil that some have said has been the best World Cup in memory.

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