Sabella's 'great joy' at reaching Final, Latest Football News - The New Paper
Football

Sabella's 'great joy' at reaching Final

Sabella turns his attention to Germany, after guiding Argentina to their first final since 1990

SEMI-FINAL

HOLLAND 0

ARGENTINA 0

  • 0-0 after extra time, 
Argentina win 4-2 on penalties

Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella spoke of his "great joy" after his side beat Holland 4-2 on penalties in Sao Paulo this morning (Singapore time) to reach the World Cup Final.

"It's a great joy. It was a very difficult, very close match," said Sabella, (right) whose side will face Germany in Monday morning's final in Rio de Janeiro.

"I'm happy. We're in the final. We'll see what we can do with one day less recovery time (compared to Germany) and after penalties.

"But we'll give everything: humility, hard work, 100 per cent. We'll see if that's enough for us to win."

Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero repelled penalties from Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sneijder in the penalty shootout after a cagey stalemate finished 0-0 following extra time at the Corinthians Arena.

Argentina, chasing their third World Cup title, last reached the final in Italy in 1990, when they lost 1-0 to West Germany.

Goalkeeper Romero told his compatriots to "enjoy the moment" after his heroics in the semi-final shootout win over Holland this morning.

"Enjoy the moment, we will enjoy it and tomorrow we will start working for the final," he said in a televised interview.

"I feel immense happiness, I'm really happy with everything.

"(Penalties) are a question of luck, that is the reality.

CONFIDENT

"I had confidence in myself and, fortunately, everything turned out well.

"Hope has been intact since day one."

Substitute striker Sergio Aguero, who converted a penalty in the shootout, said: "It means so many things, a lot of people didn't think that Argentina would be in the final, but we know what a good team we have."

Meanwhile, Holland defender Vlaar, the first player to go in the shootout, was left to rue his saved attempt.

"Before I took the penalty, I wasn't nervous. I concentrated (on it).

"It had to go in but it didn't. We didn't get that many chances (during the game).

"We could have created more chances, but we didn't. We didn't get the chance to score and that's a shame."

- Wire Services.

World Cup