Messi , Philipp Lahm , Neymar RIO DE JANEIRO: Tearful Brazil star Neymar says he is prepared to set aside the historical rivalry between South America’s two footballing heavyweights as he wants four-time world footballer of the year Lionel Messi to win the World Cup when Argentina meets Germany in Sunday’s final,reports AFP. At an emotional press conference Neymar, who missed Brazil’s 7-1 humiliat
ion against Germany in the semi-finals because of a broken vertebrae, said his Barcelona clubmate Messi deserved to add World Cup winner to his honours. “Messi’s history in the sport is so important, he has won a lot of trophies and I will be cheering for him,” said Neymar. “He is a friend, he is my team-mate and I wish him luck.” His own misfortune prompted Neymar to wipe away tears as he described his fears, immediately after the knee in the back from Colombian Juan Camil Zuniga in the quarter-final, that he would be paralysed. “I was blessed in that situation because it wasn’t more serious. Two more centimetres up and, well, I could be in a wheelchair. So it is really difficult. “It happened at such an important point in my career,” he said. “It was something I cannot accept. That challenge and what happened was unacceptable,” added the 22-year-old. Neymar’s support of Messi, and by extension Argentina, is unlikely to be shared by many of his compatriots. Brazilians are dreading the prospect of Argentina claiming their third world title in the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday. The South American nations are sworn footballing enemies, and Argentina’s advance to the final rubbed salt into Brazilian wounds still fresh from Tuesday’s record defeat to Germany. “The nightmare continues,” O Dia newspaper commented glumly after Argentina booked their place in the final by beating the Netherlands on Wednesday. As many as 100,000 Argentine fans are expected to descend on Rio for the final, the climax of a month-long footballing fiesta. However, not among their number will be Argentinian president Christine Kirchner who despite going ahead with a meeting with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Saturday says she is too ill to attend. She wrote to Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff to say while she will attend a summit of emerging powers in Brasilia next week she cannot make the final because she has been battling pharyngolaryngitis — inflammation of the pharynx and larynx. Germany meanwhile said they had quickly wiped away the euphoria felt from their thrashing of Brazil. Germany’s veteran striker Miroslav Klose, who became the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer with the second goal against Brazil, said his team had quickly forgotten the momentous win. “We enjoyed the game against Brazil, but we ticked it off after 24 hours,” Klose said. “In the next game, we have to again play to the best of our abilities.” Argentina’s players began plotting Germany’s downfall as they returned to Belo Horizonte. Striker Sergio Aguero said his team-mates were comfortable in the marginal underdog role, insisting all the pressure would be on Germany. “Germany were always the favourites, along with Brazil, to win the World Cup,” the Manchester City man said. “They continue to be so now. We need to play our own game and it suits us that all the pressure is on them.” Despite the invasion of thousands of Argentinian fans for the final security arrangements have not been altered, according to Brazilian justice minister Jose Eduardo Cardozo. Some 26,000 police and soldiers will provide security the same as originally planned, Cardozo said after a meeting with FIFA and the federal government. Cardozo also drew the positives out of the finals themselves for Brazil as a country despite their side having failed spectacularly to deliver a sixth title. “We lost on the field but off of it we are winning and the world is applauding this,” he said, referring to Brazil’s organization of the tournament, in comments picked up by the web site of the newspaper Globo. Meanwhile, the German camp were keen observers of Thursday’s World Cup semi-final between Argentina and the Netherlands, and watched with interest as the Dutch defenders were able to subdue Lionel Messi for most of the game, BBC quoted Reuters as reporting. Hansi Flick, Joachim Loew’s assistant coach, also said Friday that while the German players realised they go into Monday’s final as favourites they know that the tag is meaningless in a World Cup final. “All the players and coaching staff had a great time together watching the match last night, and obviously we saw the way Netherlands were able to keep Messi in check,” Flick told reporters at the team’s training base. Flick declined to reveal how Germany might go about keeping the four-times World Player of the Year quiet at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana. “We’ve played a lot of matches against Argentina in the past,” he said. “And we’ve also got a plan. But we’re not going to reveal that here to you.” Right back Benedikt Hoewedes, who helped Germany stop Cristiano Ronaldo in their 4-0 opening win over Portugal, said it was important to swarm Messi and not get caught one-on-one. “Messi is a fantastic player, one of the best in the world, but so was Ronaldo,” said Hoewedes. “We’ve got to work as a collective against him because we’re not going to be able to beat him one-on-one. “When we play together tightly even a great player like Messi will have a hard time. If we can defend decently as a team we’ll contain him.” Germany have made it to two of the last four World Cup finals but have not won the title since West Germany beat Argentina in 1990. “We know that we’re considered the favourites,” said Hoewedes. “The team is clever enough to avoid being led astray by that tag. We’re not going to let any external factors distract us.” Even though Germany knocked out the hosts in their 7-1 semi-final victory on Tuesday, Flick said the team hoped home fans would cheer for them in Sunday’s final against Brazil’s arch-rivals Argentina. “All of us are hoping for support from the Brazilians,” he said. “I thought it was a wonderful gesture the way Brazilians celebrated for us on the journey home to Santo Andre on Wednesday night. All along the way there were Brazilians cheering us. It was really fantastic.” While Germany’s celebrations after their massive win over Brazil in Belo Horizonte appeared muted, Flick dismissed suggestions the team would lack emotion on Monday. “It’s not that we want to go into the match without any emotion at all,” Flick added. “We know full well what it means to play in a World Cup final. But it’s important to we maintain the disciple and react smart tactically. “That’s the line we’re taking.”
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