Germany were crowned World Cup winners in thrilling fashion in Rio de Janeiro thanks to a late goal in extra time over Argentina.
They came into the game as favourites due to their 7-1 semi-final of drubbing and lived up to the billing thanks to Bayern Munich star Mario Gotze’s goal, taken superbly.
But the South Americans gave as good as they got in an entertaining 90 minutes of action, passing up the best chance of the game in that time.
Napoli ace Gonzalo Higuain may be vilified in his homeland for years to come after spurning a glorious opportunity on 20 minutes, latching on to a dreadful Toni Kroos back pass but with just the goalkeeper to beat, he dragged it wide of the target completely.
On the half hour, Higuain thought he had his side ahead when he finished off a good Argentina move to the back of the net, albeit from an offside position and the goal was correctly disallowed.
Sergio Romero was in good form in goal for Argentina as he was in the semi-final by saving from Andre Schurrle and Toni Kroos but was thanking his upright which saved him at the end of the half by taking a battering from a Benedikt Howedes header.
The Albiceleste’s start to the second half was promising, Lionel Messi having the best of the chances when he fired off target in a good position in the penalty box.
He tried his luck again later in the half but saw his shot curl well off target while Kroos should have did much better with eight minutes left on the clock when he sidefooted wide of the post from a quick cutback on the edge of the area.
That was not before Manuel Neuer was extremely lucky not to give away a penalty after he clattered Higuain with a crude knee en route to punching clear inside the box, invoking memories of Schumacher’s infamous assault on Patrick Battiston of France in 1982.
Extra time was left to decide the fate of the famous little golden trophy and in it there were only two real chances of note. Argentina missed their big chance when Rodrigo Palacio lobbed wide of the post under pressure from Neuer in front of goal.
On 113 minutes, Germany did not miss theirs. Schurrle sped down the left with a burst of pace summoned from somewhere and sent the ball into the box where Gotze gloriously controlled first time on his chest before volleying to the corner of the net and bring his nation a fourth World Cup and become the first European team ever to win the trophy on South American soil.
