World Cup Final: Germany wins fourth World Cup title by beating Argentina, 1-0

Germany's players celebrate with the trophy after winning the 2014 FIFA World Cup at the Maracana Stadium

Mario Goetze’s stunning finish, seven minutes from the end of extra time, handed Germany the Fifa World Cup crown inside the imperious Estadio Maracana in Brazil.
Goetze, who replaced World Cup’s all-time top scorer Miroslav Klose two minutes from regulation time, chested down Andre Schurrle’s sumptuous cross to volley in the winner.
The win takes Germany’s World Cup trophy haul to four, one behind Brazil.
The open ended match deserved more than the 1-0 score line as both sides lacked the deadly finish this match deserved.
The Germans, however, had the presence of mind and stamina to hold off Argentina, who perhaps gave their best display of the entire tournament.
It was the third time in a row that a World Cup final had gone into extra time and this time it looked it could go down to penalties as both sides squandered decent chances.
It was also the third time the two nations were contesting a Fifa World Cup final. Argentina won the 1986 edition 3-2 helped by legendary Diego Armando Maradona, whose deft pass released Jorge Burruchaga to score the winner.
It was Germany’s turn to bask in glory in 1990 when Andreas Brehme’s 85th minute penalty avenged their heartbreak four years earlier.
It was thus a great chance inside Estadio Maracana to grab the bragging rights in the best of three duels.
Argentinians arrived in this game buoyed by their hopeful fans who boasted having Pope Francis and the soccer magician Lionel Messi— and of course a side jab at Brazilians with the invocation of Maradona’s name.
Germany on the other hand were fresh from dishing out a mind blowing 7-1 thrashing of hosts Brazil in the semi final.
Germany came closest to opening scores when Schalke defender Benedikt Howedes rose to head powerfully against the upright on the stroke of half time from a corner.
Argentina had failed to punish Germany in the 20th minute after Toni Kroos horribly headed back a pass only for Gonzalo Higuain to pounce on it.
Napoli striker, however, dragged his effort wide when it looked easier to score than miss.
Germany started this match strongly with good interplay. Argentina were not fazed either seizing early opportunities to trouble Germany on the counter.
Lionel Messi did drag along the German defence to the goal line but there was no blue shirtt to deal with the low cross.
Bastian Schweinsteiger went into Nicola Rizzoli’s book for tripping Ezequiel Lavezzi. Argentina however did little with the effort.
Higuain thought he had atoned for his earlier miss when he finished neatly on 29 minutes only to be broken by assistant referee Andrea Stefani, who correctly ruled him offside.
The match came alive on the half hour mark as Argentina gained a foothold on this game.
Germany defender Benedikt Howedes became the second player to be booked for hacking Pablo Zabaleta in the 33rd minute.
Three minutes later Argentina launched another break, Ezequiel Lavezzi wheeling away down the right flank beating in the process two defenders before feeding Messi. The Barcelona star’s attempted flick was cut out as Germany for once appeared vulnerable on the counter.
Germany coach, Joachim Loew, was forced into an early substitution after losing midfielder Christoph Kramer to injury to be replaced by Schurrle.  Loew had already been dealt another blow during warm up as Sami Khedira limped out also with injury.
The Germans momentarily halted the Argentines’ forays and launched their own attack.
Thomas Muller drove down the right flank before cutting back the ball for the fast arriving substitute Schurrle, but Sergio Romero fisted away the strike.
Undeterred, Argentina responded with one of their counter attacks with 39 minutes on the clock. Livewire Messi spirited away down the right channel, breaking and restarting with great speed that took him into the box. His flick beat goalkeeper Manuel Neuer but Jerome Boateng was quick to smother the trouble.
Two minutes after restart Lionel Messi almost put Argentina ahead when he stayed onside to receive a pass only for his low attempt to whizz past the post with Neuer beaten.