Germany 1
- Gotze (113)
Argentina 0
***Germany are 2014 World Cup Champions***
Germany were crowned the 2014 World Cup Champions after a superbly taken Mario Gotze goal in extra time gave Joachim Low's side the victory at the Maracana as they clinched their fourth World Cup title and their first since their victory in 1990.
Few could argue that the Germany had been the best team of the tournament and at times they played some quite superb football in the tournament, setting a marker when they demolished Portugal in their opening game as well as their 7-1 hammering of Brazil to reach the final. However Argentina and Lionel Messi were always thought to have been a threat and so it proved in what was an exciting but very close game.
However it was the extra quality of the Germans and their team ethic that saw then take a memorable victory as they became the first European side to win the World Cup on South American soil.
The Germans preparations suffered an early blow before the game even began when Sami Khedira was injured in the warm up and he was replaced at the last minute by the fairly inexperienced Christoph Kramer and it was the Argentinian side that began the game better as they showed good intent early on, whilst Germany gradually settled things down and took a grip of the game. Argentina were almost gifted the lead however when Toni Kroos miscued a header back to his defence which fell to Gonzalo Higuain, who raced through on goal with only Manuel Neuer to beat, however he scuffed his shot under pressure as the Germans were let off the hook.
Higuain thought he had made amends on the half hour mark when he side footed the ball into the net, however whilst he was away celebrating, the assistant referee's flag was already up and the goal was chalked off for offside. Germany was to suffer another blow when Kramer took a clubbing blow to the head when he collided with an Argentina player, which initially he tried to shake off but he clearly was suffering the effects, forcing Low to make an early substitution as Chelsea's Andre Schurrle came on as his replacement, he made an instant impact after he forced Sergio Romero into a fine save, whilst Kroos had a decent chance only to see his mis-hit effort roll straight to the keeper. The first half ended with Germany's best chance of the game when Benedikt Howedes got on the end of a corner, only to see his bullet of a header come flying back off the post.
Both sides went into the break level after an enthralling opening 45 minutes.
Messi had a wonderful chance to break the deadlock just seconds after the re-start but he could only drag his shot wide of the goal. The second half went on and despite some good football from both sides, neither team could produce that final bit of magic in the final third. Kroos had another good chance to open the scoring with 10 minutes left on the clock after a delightful ball in from Mesut Ozil, however his side-footed effort flashed wide.
Extra time loomed and was confirmed after a goalless opening 90 minutes. Germany began the first half of extra time looking like the stronger team, although Argentina showed plenty of fight as the game looked destined to head to penalties. Only something special could break the deadlock and that was to come in the 113th minute from Bayern Munich's 22 year old midfielder Mario Gotze. Substitute Schurrle produced a terrific, powerful run down the left flank, before whipping a superb ball into the box, fellow substitute Gotze was then to produce the most memorable moment of his young career, when he superbly controlled the ball with his chest before unleashing an equally impressive left foot volley to send the ball flying past Romero and send the German side into hysterics and with seven minutes left on the clock, quite possibly winning them the World Cup.
Germany had to withstand last minute Argentina pressure and when Argentina were awarded a free kick in the dying moments, it almost looked like Messi could be destined to make his mark, however his effort summed up his tournament as his shot blazed over, leaving the referee to bring an end to the game and crown Germany the World Cup Champions
Germany Coach Joachim Low: "We've made constant progress and believed in the project, if any group deserves it, it's this team."
Manuel Neuer, who won the Golden Glove award for the best goalkeeper in the tournament: "The team has done superbly, not only the players, but also the team behind the team."
Germany Captain Phillip Lahm: "Whether we have the best individual players or whatever does not matter, you have to have the best team. At the end, you stand there as world champions - an unbelievable feeling."
Andre Schurrle: "This is the best moment of my life. I had to cry because I was so overcome. I couldn't stop it. It was always a dream to be a world champion."
Match winner Mario Gotze: "It is an unbelievable feeling. You score that goal and you don't really know what's happening."
Germany Coach Joachim Low: "We've made constant progress and believed in the project, if any group deserves it, it's this team."
Manuel Neuer, who won the Golden Glove award for the best goalkeeper in the tournament: "The team has done superbly, not only the players, but also the team behind the team."
Germany Captain Phillip Lahm: "Whether we have the best individual players or whatever does not matter, you have to have the best team. At the end, you stand there as world champions - an unbelievable feeling."
Andre Schurrle: "This is the best moment of my life. I had to cry because I was so overcome. I couldn't stop it. It was always a dream to be a world champion."
Match winner Mario Gotze: "It is an unbelievable feeling. You score that goal and you don't really know what's happening."