Seasoned Germany expects to edge past Argentina

RIO DE JANEIRO — Germany expects them the experience that runs through its team to give the edge over Argentina in Sunday’s World Cup final after admitting they restrained themselves when they thumped Brazil in the semifinals.

Germany ruined the samba nation’s dream of winning the World Cup when it hammered Brazil 7-1 on Tuesday but forward Thomas Mueller revealed it could have been worse.

The Europeans were leading 5-0 at halftime and decided during the break that they would not embarrass the hosts by showboating with fancy passes or trick shots.

“With the score the way it was, we said we should avoid being arrogant and to refrain from humiliating the opponent,” Mueller said on Friday.

“There was this agreement and it came from the players themselves.”

Mueller, one of 10 names short-listed for the Golden Boot award given to the best player of the tournament, said Germany was anticipating a much tougher match from Argentina so could not afford to let up at any stage against the South Americans.

“I’m not expecting that we’ll be ahead 5-0 at halftime again like against Brazil even though that would be nice,” he said.

“It could end up being a tight match like against Algeria or France. But it doesn’t matter. We know what we have to do.”

Germany captain Philipp Lahm also said there was no room for sentiment in the final, adding that his team was single-minded in their approach to the game.

“We’re here to win the World Cup,” he told reporters at Germany’s secluded training camp at Santo Andre. “The experience we’ve got all the way through our team is definitely an edge for us.”

End of an era

Regardless of the result, Sunday’s match will mark the end of the road for Argentina manager Alejandro Sabella, who is stepping down, according to his agent.

A former midfielder who was capped eight times by Argentina, Sabella got involved in coaching after he retired as a player in 1989 and took on the national job in 2011.

“He’s going. He’s leaving whatever happens. Whether they are champions or not, a cycle is ending,” agent Eugenio Lopez said.

Argentina was fined 300,000 Swiss francs ($336,000) by FIFA on Friday for failing to bring players to four pre-match news conferences during the World Cup.

However, the sport’s world governing body did pick three of their players — Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria and midfielder Javier Mascherano — for the Golden Boot shortlist.

Germany had four players selected, Mueller and Lahm plus Mats Hummels and Toni Kroos, while Colombia midfielder James Rodriguez, Netherlands forward Arjen Robben and Brazil’s Neymar, who was injured in the quarter-finals, were also nominated. 

Italian connection

Nicola Rizzoli of Italy will referee the World Cup final.

With a European and South American team playing, many had expected FIFA to appoint an Asian referee for Sunday’s game. But Rizzoli got the call to work his third Argentina match at this year’s World Cup.

“It is unbelievable for me,” Rizzoli said in a video interview released Friday by FIFA. “I represent Italy in this moment. I want to be one of the best for sure, and I will.”

He is the second Italian to referee the final in the past four World Cups. Pierluigi Collina refereed when Germany lost to Brazil 2-0 in the 2002 final in Yokohama, Japan.

Now head of UEFA refereeing, Collina has been a strong supporter of his compatriot’s career.

Rizzoli was the referee for the all-German Champions League final in 2013, when Bayern Munich beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in London.

FIFA Refereeing Committee Chairman Jim Boyce said earlier Friday that Rizzoli would get the duty.

“We choose the best referees for the best matches, and the Italian will referee the final,” Boyce said.

Rizzoli has already worked three matches at this year’s World Cup, including Argentina’s quarter-final victory over Belgium and a group win over Nigeria. He also handled the high-profile match between the Netherlands and Spain on the second day of the tournament.

FIFA head of refereeing Massimo Busacca also said that match officials have improved the football at this year’s World Cup.

Busacca said their understanding of the game helped increase the number of goals scored and playing time per match from four years ago in South Africa.

Meanwhile, referees have awarded fewer fouls and yellow cards in Brazil than in 2010.

“Football won in this competition,” said Busacca, a former World Cup referee.

FIFA also said the 95 injuries at this World Cup, seven classed as severe, were a reduction of 40 per cent.

“When we compare all the matches we can be really satisfied,” Busacca said.