Miroslav Klose, Germany’s sole survivor from their 2002 World Cup final defeat, says his side must forget their rout of Brazil and seize their chance against Argentina in Sunday’s final.

The 36-year-old Klose, who scored a record 16th World Cup goal in Tuesday’s 7-1 semi-final rout of Brazil, was on the losing side in Yokohama in Brazil’s 2-0 victory in 2002.

This is Klose’s fourth – and final – World Cup and the Lazio striker desperately wants to sign off in style at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium.

“We enjoyed the game against Brazil, but we ticked it off after 24 hours,” said Klose.

“In the next game, we have to again play to the best of our abilities.

“It feels really awful to lose a final, so it’s our time to win this one.”

Having equalled, then broken, Ronaldo’s record of 15 World Cup goals during Brazil 2014, Klose said it will all count for nothing if Germany lose to Argentina.

“It’s a hugely emotional thing for me, but people who know me, know that my focus is already on Argentina – 100 per cent,” said the forward, who has found the net twice in the tournament, to add to the five he netted both in the 2002 and 2006 tournaments, and the four he scored in South Africa in 2010.

“Yes, I have overtaken Ronaldo as the best goalscorer, but that is something to take on board another day.

“If we lose the final, my joy as the top scorer will be significantly dampened.”

Amid growing expectations in Germany of a fourth World Cup title to add to the ones claimed in 1954, 1974 and in 1990 – all won under the guise of West Germany – defender Benedikt Hoewedes said the Brazil mauling will mean nothing if they lose at the Maracana on Sunday.

“Many people are giving us slaps on the back and we love the compliments, but we can’t make the mistake that it’s already over, far off it,” said the left-back.

“People are saying in Germany that the title is almost in our pocket, but the Argentinians will fight to take the title home.

“We’ll have to do all we can to make sure that doesn’t happen.

“We also know the time is ripe now, if we don’t [win it], the semi-final victory will just be consigned to the archives of history.”

Hoewedes acknowledged the team were already thinking of ways of coping with Lionel Messi, Argentina’s leading scorer in the tournament, and were taking inspiration from how they had successfully dealt with Cristiano Ronaldo in their group game victory over Portugal

“Messi is a fantastic player, one of the best in the world, but so was Ronaldo,” said Hoewedes. “We’ve got to work as a collective against him because we’re not going to be able to beat him one-on-one.

“When we play together tightly even a great player like Messi will have a hard time. If we can defend decently as a team we’ll contain him.”

Meanwhile, Germany defender Mats Hummels was able to train with his teammates yesterday after having treatment for a knee injury, while the extra day of rest before Sunday’s World Cup final is a clear advantage, said assistant coach Hansi Flick.

Hummels has tendinitis and asked to be taken off at half-time during Germany’s 7-1 semi-final victory against Brazil on Tuesday.

“All the players will be able to train, whether it’s on an exercise bike or on the pitch – whichever they prefer,” Flick said.

He said yesterday’s session, the first for Germany after Tuesday’s incredible 7-1 win over Brazil, would focus on regeneration.

Germany had been playing with four-day breaks between matches in the tournament but have the advantage of a fifth-day break before the final against Argentina.

“The extra day of rest before the match is obviously very important,” Flick said ahead of what will be Germany’s seventh match since June 16.

“When you talk to the players they all say they really appreciate having that extra day off now.”

Their opponents Argentina, will have one less day of rest before the final.

Hummels asked to be taken off at half-time against Brazil ­because of the condition of his knee.

He first hurt the knee in Germany’s 4-0 win over Portugal in their opening group game.

Hummels said he felt pain in his knee during the warm-up on Tuesday.

“I made the decision that it’s perhaps better to take myself out so that I wouldn’t break anything,” he said.

“We’ll have to see exactly what it is. It’s not something tiny but fortunately I don’t think it’s anything that would endanger Sunday.”