La Albiceleste face a herculean of a task as they look to get the better of a German side which has taken the world cup by storm. Die Nationalmannschaft condemned Brazil to a humiliating 7-1 defeat and now look to subject their arch rivals to the same fate.
However Germany like every other team have exposed their weaknesses and it is important that Alejandro Sabella exploits them to help Argentina claim their third World Cup title. Here are five things Argentina must do to win the World Cup title.
The Atomic Flea
It goes without saying, but Lionel Messi will have to be at his supreme best if Argentina are to achieve anything on Sunday night. The 27 year old is the team’s captain and the best player and will need to produce an extraordinary performance something he is more than capable of.
Messi has scored four goals in the competition so far and has been one of the best players of the tournament. La Pulga is simply unstoppable when he is on song and can dismantle the most disciplined of defences. To Messi’s advantage the German defence tends to be a bit fragile at times something the Barcelona star can take advantage of.
Win the midfield battle
Germany’s biggest strength is its midfield and all the talented players which are a part of it. Joachim Löw has some of the finest midfielders at his expense all of whom can cause a lot of menace in the middle of the park if not looked after.
Javier Mascherano’s services will be of great use here. The Barcelona star was recognized as one of the finest play breakers in the world of football during his time at Liverpool but has so far failed to boast a similar reputation at Camp Nou.
However his performances in the world cup have been nothing short of spectacular. The 30 year old has played an integral part in Argentina’s run to the final of the competition and will have to be at his best again if his side is to win the title.
Arjen Robben was seen toying around with defences throughout the tournament but was relatively quiet in the match against Argentina. This was because he was being man marked by Mascherano who simply provided him with no room to breathe. However considering the plethora of talent Germany have in the middle of the park, the Barcelona man will not be able to do the job on his own and will need constant support from his midfield partner.
Limit the spaces
Germany play neat tactical possession football and through patient build ups they frustrate their opponents and eventually score a goal. The obvious solution to possession football is for Argentina to adopt a pressing tactic and limit the spaces available to the German players which will prevent them getting in their groove giving Argentina a very strong advantage.
Use a counter attacking tactic
The one time Germany have looked very vulnerable in the tournament was when they faced a team which used a counter attacking strategy. Algeria did not have the best of players in the squad but they surely gave the Germans a run for their money and repeatedly tested their resolve through swift counter attacks.
Luckily for Argentina they have far better players than Algeria do and can use the pace and agility in their squad to punish Germany on counter attacks.
Be very clinical
If it was not already clear, Manuel Neuer through his performances has shown just why he is the best goalkeeper in the world right now. When the German defence has looked shaky and susceptible, the Bayern Munich shot stopper has come to his team’s rescue.
Neuer operated as a sweeper keeper in the match against Algeria and came off his line on a number of occasions to rescue his defence. His contributions were also vital in the match against France as he produced a stunning save from a Karim Benzema strike to keep the score at 1-0. This means that Argentina will have to be very clinical in order to beat Neuer and they should make very good use of every chance which falls to them.
