Germans gathering to watch World Cup final

Thousands of football fans are already gathering at Berlin's famous Brandenburg Gate hours before the World Cup final kicks off in Brazil between Germany and Argentina.

A heavy rain shower sent fans scampering for cover early but a crowd re-emerged in greater numbers on Sunday getting ready to watch the game in front of giant TV screens.

Up to 100,000 football fans are expected at the "fan mile" alone.

Police closed a number of entrances to the public viewing event at least four hours before kickoff due to the sheer numbers of fans attending.

Crowds began gathering with around six hours to go.

Other public viewing venues were also filling up, despite the likelihood of heavy rain across the country.

Showers and summer storms are expected to move in from the southwest.

At Rio de Janeiro's famous Maracana Stadium, Germany is bidding to win its fourth World Cup title, its first as a reunified country.

West Germany's triumph in 1990 came several months after the fall of the Berlin Wall, which passed in front of the Brandenburg Gate.

"Mauerfall" will be marked later this year with 25th anniversary celebrations, although the area will stage more celebrations on Tuesday if Germany beats Argentina.

If victorious, coach Joachim Loew's team is scheduled to present the World Cup trophy to fans at the Brandenburg Gate.

General manager Oliver Bierhoff says, however, there will be no party with the fans unless Germany wins the title.