Argentina, Germany start final tuning

Angel di Maria joins training session with South American side.


Reuters July 11, 2014

RIO DE JANEIRO: Argentina and Germany were both back at work on Thursday, secretly hatching plans for Sunday’s World Cup final.

While their contrasting styles promise a classic battle between Europe and South America, Argentina and Germany have plenty to think about as they put the finishing touches to their preparations.

Lionel Messi and his Argentina teammates had a light workout after they returned to their base camp in Belo Horizonte after Wednesday’s dramatic penalty shootout win over the Netherlands.

Argentina winger Angel di Maria joined the training session in the hope of being able to play in the final despite suffering a thigh injury just a few days ago.

Di Maria, the South Americans’ most creative player after Messi, hurt a muscle when shooting at goal during the quarter-final win over Belgium.

He jogged lightly but is still racing against the clock to be ready, although striker Sergio Aguero’s full recovery from a muscle strain has given Argentina a boost.

“We have to win and it doesn’t matter if we play well or not,” said Aguero. “This is the game we have all wanted to play since we left Buenos Aires, and against an aggressive and tough opponent.”

Germany were also back on the training pitch at their secluded base camp in Santo Andre after taking Wednesday off following their 7-1 thrashing of host-nation Brazil on Tuesday.

Defender Mats Hummels was cleared to rejoin his teammates after undergoing treatment for a knee injury that prompted him to miss the second half against Brazil. With the team only having a gentle run-out, Germany’s assistant coach Hansi Flick said Hummels was free to do what he wanted.

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

“It’s up to each individual to decide what they want to do in training.”

FIFA fines Argentina for snubbing media

Argentina have been fined $336,000 for failing to bring players to four pre-match news conferences during the World Cup, said Fifa in a statement on Friday.

Fifa’s disciplinary committee said Argentina had breached its media and marketing regulations in news conferences on the day before games against Nigeria, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands with only coach Alejandro Sabella present.

The coach is supposed to appear alongside a player.

“The objective is to allow media, and ultimately fans, to have an opportunity to follow a team’s preparations, while also allowing each team to have the best possible environment for those preparations,” said football’s world governing body said.

There was no immediate response from Argentina, who face Germany in the World Cup final on Sunday.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 12th, 2014.

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