Germany are the Fifa World Cup Champions for the fourth time in World Cup history. Germany overcame a spirited Argentina team, thanks to a superb extra time finish by Mario Gotze winning the match 1-0. Mario Gotze had replaced Miroslav Klose before coming on to score the most quintessential goal of the match at the Maracana in Rio De Janeiro. Argentina and Germany fought neck to neck right from the first minute to the last minute. Germany and Argentina had their own opportunities but it was Germany which took advantage in the extra-time to score the winning goal. With every World Cup, you have a star, and in the World Cup finals it was Mario Gotze.
Messi & Co matched the Germans in every aspect of the game, but destiny was with Germany. It was their destiny to be the World Cup champions for the fourth time. The game started early on full of energy and adrenaline in the stadium on and off the field. Argentina may have dented their World Cup hopes down when they wasted a golden opportunity with Higuain shooting wide of goal. The goalkeeper stood between the Argentine goal and Higuain. He would have scored a lot of those during his time with Real Madrid. He is a world class player. He was expected to finish it. He lost the opportunity to give a 1-0 lead.Germany had the possession for the most parts of the match, but they couldn’t break through the stubborn defence of Argentina and their goalkeeper Sergio Romero.
Before the start of the tournament, there where criticisms regarding the Argentina defense, but all those where answered during the tournament. Higuain, who missed a sitter early on put the ball into the net, but destiny was against them. He was adjudged off-side, and rightly so. Christoph Kramer, who made his first start in the world cup could not make an impression as he had to be replaced by Andre Schurrle owing to an injury he suffered during the course of the match. The Chelsea front man brought pace and energy to the German attack. He had a great chance withing minutes, from a Thomas Muller pass that saw him blasting a shot at goal only to be saved by Sergio Romero. Messi was quiet for most of the first half, or rather he was made to but he had a few scintillating runs into the German box. One of those instances where when he beat Hummels for pace and surged into the German box. He completely owned Hummels in that attack. Messi was showing signs of his old Barca days, where he used to make a mockery of some of the best defences in the world. Before the end of the first half, Howedes hit the post with his superb header from a Toni Kroos corner. At the break, it was quite evident that either of them were going to make changes. Sergio Aguero was brought on for Lavezzi to change things around. But that change proved to be quite costly. Lavezzi had such a tremendous work rate in the first half. He was easily their best player on pitch but Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella stunned everyone by subbing him. Aguero had to come in at some point in the match, but it could have been for Higuain who looked rusty and seemed out of sorts with his positioning and finishing. In the second half, Argentina started promisingly playing attacking football and causing hiccups to the German wall. Messi had an opportunity that he shoot wide from a Lucas Biglia delivery.
Germans had their share of opportunities too, with Miroslav Klose coming inches close of scoring. Mesut Ozil was easily the best player on pitch with accurate passing and vision. Toni Kroos took a cool side-foot shot only to see it go wide of Romero. But the move behind the chance from Ozil was simply sublime. He may not have scored many goals in the tournamnet but he has done the job assigned to him in his un-conventional role. This is a German team that had injuries come its way. With the injury to Marco Reus before the start of the tournament, Mesut Ozil had to compromise on his preferred attacking role to give balance to the team. The match went into extra time and it looked as if it would be a duel between the two goalkeepers- Neuer and Romero. This world cup on a whole, had been known for the goalkeepers. During the course of the tournament, many goalkeepers have emerged. It was Romero who brought his team into the finals with him being the hero of the penalty shoot-out against Netherlands. It seemed as if it was going to another penalty shoot-out but there was a twist in the tale. Argentina and Germany made a few changes bringing on Palacio, Gago and Gotze. Gotze’s introduction proved to be a master call by German coach Joachim Low. In the extra time, Lahm and Gotze bulid up a good chemistry between them. One of the great advantages of playing in the same club. They were reaping the benefits of it. Rodrigo Palacio wasted a golden chance, when he looped the ball over Neuer only to see the ball go wide off the net. With seven minutes left to go for the penalties, the moment that the Germans had been waiting for arrived. Schurrle, the Chelsea man musled his way past three Argentine defenders to deliver the ball to Gotze.
The 22 year- old stunned was exquisite with his control on the chest and volleyed the ball from such a tight angle to the net to give Germany the all important goal that would make them left the World Cup trophy for the fourth time. Cometh the moment, maketh the champion. Germany deserved it more than any other team. On the given day, they were too big for Argentina. Germany have been playing supreme football over the past 5 years and it is even and justifiable that they reap the dividends out of it. Gotze did broke a lot of hearts in Argentina but he surely did open a new chapter in world football. The Germans are a footballing institution. This world cup would go down in the annals of history that was competitive right from the start to the end. The Holy Grail belongs to the Germany.
Individual awards where distributed to the best talents of the Fifa World Cup as follows :
Golden Ball – Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Golden Boot – James Rodriguez (Columbia) – 6 goals, 2 assists
Golden Glove – Manuel Neuer (Germany)
Young Player Award – Paul Pogba (France)
Fifa Fairplay Award – Columbia
