Germany will feel no pressure in the World Cup final against Argentina on Sunday as they have the experience to cope with the biggest stage of all, midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger said on Saturday.
"We are immensely happy. I don't think that we have any pressure. We have a lot of players who have played finals at top level we know how to deal with the situation even though we have only one player who has played in the World Cup final," he told a news conference at the Maracana stadium.
Schweinsteiger said that big-time experience in the German squad meant they would be able to savour the moment but then focus clearly on the task ahead of them.
"We only think of one thing - to get the job done. When the whistle is blown...the head will only have to think about playing football," he said.
Germany reached the final after a remarkable 7-1 win over hosts Brazil but Schweinsteiger said that a very different game awaits.
"We are in very good shape, as we were against Brazil but we know that this is a different game. Brazil were without Neymar and Thiago Silva and they felt intense pressure. We know that we can play good football but we have to do it again from the start," he said.
The 29-year-old said the key to the match would be to show patience and deal with Argentina's main threats.
"We have to be patient. Argentina is for me a very, very good team who are deservedly in the final. They have world- class players with (Lionel) Messi, (Angel) Di Maria and Sergio Aguero.
"(Javier) Mascherano is the leading wolf - as he showed with the tackle against Arjen Robben to deny him a goal. You see what kind of attitude he has for his country. It will not be easy for us but if we show our quality on the pitch and we have the necessary cleverness we can beat this team."
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