Germany’s long World Cup winning wait is over after Mario Götze’s stoppage time strike in Rio de Janeiro made Germany the first European team to win a World Cup on South American soil.
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Mario Gotze (114”)
Rio de Janeiro was raucous and poised for an epic culmination to an epic World Cup tournament. Passion was brimming as both sets of teams prepared to seize a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Joachim Löw’s side set out much more positively for the opening minutes. Showing promise with an early free-kick, there was plenty of choice at their disposal – five to be frank stepping up, but it was carelessly wasted.
In what would be a hit-and-miss opening 45 minutes for Gonzalo Higuain, he dragged his shot well wide when Argentina first explored their attacking third. Just a few minutes later, Lionel Messi’s surging run saw him overtake Mats Hummels, but his cross was anxiously beat away by Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Ezequiel Lavezzi was also able to exploit numerous areas in the patchy German opening. His two crosses in the first ten minutes were again safely defused.
With Sami Khedira suffering an injury hours prior to the kick-off, Christoph Kramer replaced him in the starting XI as he made his first competitive start. Suffering a huge collision and picking up an injury he had to make way eventually following half-an-hour.
Argentina erupted into euphoria – but only momentarily, as Higuain’s shot was deemed offside. A brilliant ball from the right let him guide it through Neuer, but after running towards the crowd the Argentinian front-man discovered the offside flag was waving.
André Schürrle almost made an instant impact after Muller rolled towards him in the corner of the box. Romero kept it out.
Back on the other end, a reinvigorated Messi, despite calls of suffering fatigue, broke through the right flank and this time his chipped attempt was swept off the line by a steadfast Jerome Boateng.
Germany would ultimately finish an open first-half the strongest. Benedikt Höwedes headed strongly from Kroos’ late corner, but it rattled the post. Muller attempted to guide in the rebound but it was offside. Minutes earlier, Muller’s troubling cross just refracted out and Romero grasped comfortably.
Argentine’s coach Sabella looked to shift up the tactics from the outset of the second period, replacing Lavezzi with Aguero. Aguero would break away from kickoff to Messi, but Germany dealt and got rid of the problem.
Looking much more livelier, Argentina had Germany on the backfoot for the first five minutes, with Higuain offside crucially before Messi cut through only to drag his shot away from goal.
As the sun set in Rio, the pace would pick up. Manuel Neuer soon flattened Higuain when contesting for the ball, physicality was cinematic like the scenes around the wonder of the World.
Late defending kept Argentina going through with crucial tackles outside the box by Schweinsteiger. Then, Klose bowed out of his record-breaking World Cup tenure as he was replaced by Gotze.
Three minutes of additional time wouldn’t cut it, either. We were bound for extra-time. 30 more minutes of an amazing World Cup.
André Schürrle infiltrated into the box around half-a-minute into extra-time but his shot was straight at Romero. A fast-paced start to extra time saw Argentina’s counter wither in immediate response.
An end-to-end first five minutes would see both defences hold up, looking solid and in the times when they didn’t fully get the job done, Neuer and Romero were more than reliable.
Palacio had a frustrating first extra-time period. His lack of control saw Argentina’s break slow down before he missed a huge chance to etch his name in Argentinian history when he broke through again – only for his heavy touch forcing him to flick over, going wide.
Another fifteen minutes strolled by, it was loud, it was tense and it was goalless.
Mario Gotze’s stoppage time strike was the difference, though, as Andre Schurrle sprinted down the left, delivering the cross for him to chest and guide it past Romero.
Lionel Messi’s late free-kick went over, the time ticked.
The final whistle blew.
The World Cup was over.
Germany were Champions
again.
Match breakdown
Man of the Match: Mario Gotze
Flop of the Match: Lionel Messi
Possession: Loading Stats…
Shots: Loading Stats…
World Cup fallout, analysis coming soon
Germany are deserving Champions once again.
What a World Cup – one I’ll never forget.
It’s the joint-highest scoring World Cup in history – and Germany are on top of the World, where they belong.
Complete Coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup »
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