Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa Thursday said he was rooting for Argentina to win the 2014 Brazil World Cup final against Germany.

Argentina, twice World Cup champion (1978 and 1986), and Germany, three-time champion (1954, 1974 and 1990), play for the championship title Sunday at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana Stadium.

"Of course I'm rooting for Argentina, without any doubt. What's more, I believe Argentina deserves to win, since it has been improving," the president said in a radio interview.

Correa, an avid football fan, said the team's last a few games "have been very good," particularly its semifinal match against Holland Wednesday, which Argentina won 4-2 in a penalty shootout.

"Yesterday the team won in penalties, but it should have won the match. In other words, if football was fair -- it's about scoring goals, but if it was a matter of merit -- Argentina deserved to win the game," said Correa.

Winning the final will be tough, said Correa, adding Germany is a "great team" that exposed Brazil's weaknesses in their Tuesday semifinal match, won by the Germans 7-1.

Brazil's defeat "is a tragedy, not just for Brazil, but for all Latin America. Hopefully Argentina can avenge the game on behalf of Latin America," said Correa.

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