World Cup Final: Sabella will step down regardless of result, while Loew reaches for long-term goal
Argentina manager has forged a work ethic among players; Germany's boss has instilled determined team spirit
Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella is to step down after the final regardless of the result, his agent said.
And Sabella, 59, could deliver no better parting gift than winning the World Cup on the soil of their fiercest rivals.
"To go at the top is always positive. I believe he gave everything to the national team and that now is the time to give way to another person," Eugenio Lopez said. "Whether they are champions or not, a cycle is ending."
You gain experiences, you have triumph and defeats, but what he has preserved is a clear-cut philosophy
Sabella told Argentina sports newspaper Ole he was focused only on this match.
"The future, for me, is the next match, the World Cup final. Thinking about something different would be disrespectful," he said.
Argentina have been more workmanlike than wonderful under Sabella, but he has forged a formidable work ethic in the side and introduced much-needed tactical discipline.