Pablo Zabaleta determined not to show defensive frailty against ruthless Germany

Argentina full-back Pablo Zabaleta has said that his side have learned lessons from watching their close neighbours Brazil get thrashed 7-1 by Germany in the World Cup semi-final.

The hosts were 5-0 down before the half-hour mark as they tried to chase the game, but Zabaleta has said that Argentina will not make the same mistakes in tonight's final.

"Even if you concede some goals before 15 minutes or 20 minutes you need to keep calm and keep playing in the same way as we have been doing for these six games," Zabaleta told the Observer.

"A football game is just about 90 minutes. If you concede some goals and you try to score as soon as possible, you concede space at the back and you are finished. It was a lesson for us, the Brazil game."

You can follow live minute-by-minute coverage of tonight's game on Sports Mole from 6pm.