Four years after losing to Spain in the semi-finals and finishing third overall in the 2010 World Cup, Germany became the 2014 World Cup champions on Sunday, July 13. Germany has won four World Cup titles overall, and this is their first since 1990.
Germany and Argentina were battling for the right to hoist the FIFA World Cup Trophy at 3 p.m., and Germany was pleased to bring the honor home with a 1-0 win that went into extra time.
Despite only one goal being made during the entire 120-minute match, there were many chances to score for both teams.
Twenty minutes into the match, German player Toni Kroos accidentally passed the ball to Argentinian Gonzalo Higuaín, who had no one around him except the keeper. Higuaín, however, missed on the golden chance.
Higuaín actually sent the ball into the back of the net nine minutes later. Everyone, including Higuaín himself, who celebrated after the goal, thought Argentina led the game with its first goal in, but the offsides flag was up right away. The score remained 0-0.
Near the end of the first half, German player Benedikt Höwedes almost took his team a step closer to the trophy with a promising header from Kroos’ kick from the corner, but the ball bounced off the right post. The football just would not let either team score.
German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer took Higuaín to the ground while making a save by leaving his position at 56 minutes. At 97 minutes, Argentinean Rodrigo Palacio was all alone with the ball and the goalkeeper. However, Palacio did not fully use the chance.
Read also: Musician Mick Jagger Blamed for Brazil’s Loss
Finally, at 113 minutes, German substitute Mario Götze, 23, broke the unchanging score with a great goal to put Germany up 1-0 with only seven minutes remaining in extra time. It was the latest goal to have been scored in a World cup final.
Argentinean hero Lionel Messi had a free kick as Argentina’s last chance to tie the game, but luck was not on his side.
A picture that said, “Brazil has Neymar, Argentina has Messi, Portugal has Ronaldo, Germany has a team,” has been spreading around on the internet after the Brazil-Germany semi-final game Tuesday, July 1.
Well, the score proved Germany did play as a team, and Argentinean hero Lionel Messi could not defeat it on his own.
Before the match, “World Cup Jinx” Mick Jagger was seen at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, where the final game took place. He did not say which team he was cheering for, but everyone could guess based on his legendary track record.
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