Germany players celebrate with their trophy after winning the 2014 World Cup final between Germany and Argentina at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro July 13, 2014. (Darren Staples/Reuters)
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Germany defeats Argentina 1-0 in extra time for the world championship.
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- Germany's players celebrate past Argentina's Pablo Zabaleta (3rd L) as referee Nicola Rizzoli (L) of Italy signals the end of the extra time in their 2014 World Cup final at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro July 13, 2014. (David Gray/Reuters)
- Germany are the new world champions, Joachim Loew's team proving itself resilient and good enough to take the best opportunity that fell its way in a pulsating, thrilling World Cup final against an Argentinian side that at various points of a wonderful game looked as though it, not its European rival, could take the crown.This was a game of oscillating fortunes played at a frantic pace where fortunes ebbed and flowed one way or another. There was little between the two teams for 113 minutes until German substitute Mario Goetze struck a goal of the highest class, a volley which was worthy of a World Cup-winning goal.
Germany's players hold up the World Cup trophy. Photo: APAnother German substitute, Andre Schurrle, summoned the energy to break wide on the left with just seven minutes left in extra time before delivering a cross to the edge of the six-yard box. Goetze got free between two defenders, controlled the ball on his chest and then volleyed home, giving Sergio Romero no chan - His rueful smile as he drove a late free-kick over the bar summed up his feelings in a game in which he had been good, but not outstanding in the way he needed to be if the Albicelestes were to win this title.Still, it was hard not to have sympathy for an Argentina side that had carved out numerous chances and dominated periods of the game without being able to convert any.This was a game that began in dramatic circumstances when key German midfielder Sami Khedira was forced to withdraw from the starting 11, having injured himself in the pre-match warm up, his place going to youngster Christoph Kramer, who was himself later to leave the field with concussion after an elbow to the head from Argentina defender Ezequiel Garay.
World Cup winner: Mario Goetze scores the only goal of the final. Photo: ReutersIt ended in tense and equally compelling circumstances with Goetze's goal and Argentina's last-gasp efforts to dredge up an equaliser and force the match to a penalty shootout.Gonzalo Higuain was the villain of the piece for the Albiceleste in a first half in which Germany began the brighter but the South Americans gradually exerted themselves and created a number of opportunities.The best of those fell to the Napoli frontman Higuain, who surely could not have believed how much time and space he found himself in after Toni Kroos' errant back header left him in the clear with only German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to beat.
German players celebrate winning the World Cup. Photo: APA striker of Higuain's class and experience would be expected to finish an opportunity like that in normal circumstances. But a World Cup final is the least normal of circumstances, and Higuain, like many before him, didn't cope with the pressure, scuffing his shot wide of Neuer's right hand post.The frontman, who has been ever present throughout Argentina's run to the final, thought he had given his country the lead shortly afterwards after some great lead-up work by Messi, who controlled the ball beautifully in midfield after Germany failed to clear properly from an Argentine attack and fed Ezequiel Lavezzi out on the right.The winger floated a lovely cross, which Higuain met first time and side footed home. Alas for him and the full throated mass of Argentine supporters who were trying to turn the Maracana into an outpost of Buenos Aires, the assistant referee raised his flag for offside. Replays showed that Higuain and his teammate Marcos Rojo had strayed into forbidden territory.
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