Germany will face Argentina in the 2014 World Cup Final, and will take the pitch as slight favorites. Netherlands star Arjen Robben believes that Argentina is in for a very tough match though.
"Germany's going to win the World Cup. No doubt about that. The Argentines will not stand a chance," Robben said. He also guarded against accusations that his pick is based on resentment toward Argentina after a hard-fought, scoreless match ended on penalty kicks, which he hinted he feels are arbitrary.
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"Penalties are not only a game of pure chance - we've shown that against Costa Rica. We did a very good job there, and were really successful. It didn't work out today during the penalties. We also had some bad luck but, sadly, that's part of football. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved though. We presented ourselves really well."
Robben's Netherlands team will take the pitch today to play for third place in the World Cup against Brazil. He's acquitted himself well in this tournament, racking up three goals, two assists, and drawing perhaps the most famous penalty of the tournament vs. Mexico.
Robben's flop had many fans and observers debating whether he or Robin Van Persie, whose leaping header goal in the Group stage nearly broke the internet, is the real "Flying Dutchman" on the Netherlands.
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Mexico's coach Miguel Herrera was very upset about Robben's dive-- "It seems to me that the reason we were eliminated was the man with the whistle. Although their first goal was good and came from a mistake on our part, the game was heading to extra time," Herrera said.
"But if the referee invents a penalty of that size, you leave the World Cup after circumstances not created by you. And Robben dived three times for penalties that didn't exist. He should have been cautioned. If you do that to the guy who tries to cheat, then he can't cheat again."
But Robben wasn't, and the Netherlands moved on to the quarters and now have an opportunity to extinguish Brazil's spirit completely with a third place win.
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