Argentina have Agüero, di María available for the final

post by ProSoccerTalk

Argentina have received a boost ahead of this afternoon’s World Cup final against Germany. Ángel di María and Sergio Agüero are both fit, and could play a role in helping the side to the trophy.

The news isn’t all rosy, however. While di María, who’d picked up a thigh injury, returned to training yesterday, he’s unlikely to be fit enough to start. The Real Madrid man scored against Switzerland to put the albiceleste through to the quarterfinals, but came off against Belgium after providing a pass that allowed Gonzalo Higuaín to score the only goal. He played no role in the semifinal against Netherlands.

Agüero, however, could well start. The forward came off after just 38 minutes played in Argentina’s eventual 3-2 win over Nigeria. He sat out the first two games of the knockout round, but returned in the 82nd minute against Netherlands.

Alejandro Sabella now has a dilemma. In the first game, against Bosnia and Herzegovina, he elected to go with a less attacking lineup, fielding five defenders. Argentina won, but certainly didn’t look their best. Yet since that game, the supposed Fantastic Four (di María, Higuaín, Agüero and Lionel Messi, of course) have yet to live up to their billing. The albiceleste have come this far by switching to a more organized, defensive system.

Will Sabella play it cautious? If so, Agüero could still start, stepping in for Ezequiel Lavezzi. If Argentina pin their hopes on this attack finally gelling, Agüero will of course play, but Lavezzi should remain in the lineup.

Either way, Argentina have a tough match ahead of them. It remains to be seen if they can come close to matching the Germany side that thrashed Brazil 7-1. Then again, they do have Messi, who is always capable of moments of magic.