Sabella: The final will be extremely difficult
Argentina Coach Alejandro Sabella says the 2014 FIFA World Cup final match between his side and Germany will be extremely difficult for the two teams. Argentine players celebrating after their victory over Netherlands
The final takes place at the famous Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday and it’ll be a repeat of the 1986 and 1990 World Cup finals.
Argentina captained and inspired by the legendary Diego Maradona won 3-2 in 1986 and Germany were victorious four years later with a 1-0 win.
Sabella’s team defeated Netherlands 4-2 on penalty shoot-out after a goalless draw at both regular and extra time in a tense semi-final game at the Corinthians Itaquera stadium in Sao Paulo on 9 July, to set up a final match with Germany who had inflicted a heavy 7-1 defeat on Brazil a day earlier.
Robben and Dirk Kuyt scored for the Netherlands. Messi, Ezequiel Garay and Aguero on target before Rodriguez’s kick sent Argentina to their fifth World cup final after 1930, 1978, 1986 and 1990.
“The match will be extremely difficult for both teams but we’ll do everything possible to make it to the top,” Coach Sabella told journalists after their victory of Netherlands.
He added: “Germany are a very good side. I believe they have always been physical and tactical throughout their football history. They are a first world country who are well organised.”
“They have more time to rest as they won their match with Brazil during the 90 minutes of play a day earlier.
We have to win on penalties after 120 minutes. But we’ll see what will happen next Sunday.”
Germany, three times winners of the world cup in 1954 in Switzerland, 1974 at home soil and 1990 in Italy, will be going to the match as favourite given the manner in which they humiliated the host nation Brazil whose nationals are still coming to terms with the surprise defeat.
But Argentina led by one of the greatest players of all times Lionel Messi and with lot of support from their tens of thousands of travelling noisy fans could just carry the day.
Just like Diego Maradona in the 1986 world cup, the entire Argentina people will heavily rely on Messi to inspire the team to win the tournament for the third time after 1978 at home and 1986 in Mexico.
And for Argentines, Messi can only be compared to one of the greatest players, if not the greatest the world has seen Maradona who they refer to ‘king of kings’ only if he wins the world cup for his country.
By Mohamed Fajah Barrie in Sao Paulo, Brazil
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