Beijing - Argentine coach Sergio Batista was exultant Tuesday after his men beat arch-rival Brazil 3-0 in the semifinals of the Olympic football tournament in Beijing.

"I said before the game that I was very optimistic based on the 18 players I have, and I was not wrong: today they thrashed Brazil," Batista said in the press conference after the game.

"These results do not come up every day. Argentina played a great game, with great intelligence and personality. We knew that Brazil was going to wait for us and that we were going to have to be patient. And that is what we did. That is why I congratulate my players."

Defending champion Argentina faces Nigeria in Saturday's final. This will be the South American country's third Olympic final in the last four editions of the tournament.

Indeed, Nigeria-Argentina was the final in Atlanta 1996, which the African side won 3-2.

"We are not yet thinking about Nigeria, that will be from tomorrow (Wednesday) onwards. Now we are very happy about having beaten Brazil. But surely if Nigeria reached the final it is because they are a great team," Batista noted.

"(The Brazilians) felt choked by our pressure. It was our best match in the Olympic Games. The result was very fair."

Batista particularly singled out striker Sergio Aguero, who had not scored so far in the Olympics and got two goals against Brazil.

"Sergio deserved this, I always had confidence in him," the coach said. (dpa)