Mario Gotze seals Germany's triumph

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Three points on the World Cup final that saw Mario Gotze's goal secure a 1-0 win for Germany over Argentina.

1. Gotze's golden goal

Enthralling, absorbing, end-to-end and looking like it would end goalless, a pulsating first half gave way to over an hour where human failings kept the score at a stalemate. Poor finishing, better defending and a demi-god (in Lionel Messi) failing to live with the burden of creating a legacy still kept the planet rapt. The forced drama of penalties was likely to decide the victor, but then came the moment when Germany finally picked the lock.

The nation's fourth World Cup came via two substitutes. Andre Schurrle, always aware of space, found Gotze, whose volleyed finish was delivered with a coolness no other had shown in 112 minutes. Messi's moment came and went, while coach Alejandro Sabella must face flak for three subs who failed; none of Sergio Aguero, Rodrigo Palacio and Fernando Gago could match the impact of their German counterparts.

Germany looked fresher in extra time. They were beginning to find the space of the early salvos while centre-backs Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng had mastered an increasingly ragged Argentina strike force.

Schurrle had been on for stricken Christoph Kramer since the 30th minute; he was to maintain his impact until the end. Argentine goalkeeper Sergio Romero had to make a full-length save just after the sub's arrival, but in the 70th minute, Schurrle lost control as he scuttled the point of a triangle created by Thomas Muller and Mezut Ozil, flickering back to life after being shut down following a first half in which they had caused havoc.

If Germany had a more mobile striker than Miroslav Klose, they might have been out of sight at the break. At 36, he did not have the legs to work the correct channels, but Joachim Low could hardly drop an all-time record-breaking striker after he had scored in the 7-1 victory over Brazil.

They might have rued Benedikt Howedes heading against a post and Toni Kroos dragging softly wide when Ozil laid him a piledriver on a plate. Eventually, though, the chance came, and Gotze took it beautifully.

Germany had conquered Brazil, and the host country could be happy again. Argentina's dream had been dashed.

2. Messi flops like the rest

The moment Messi could lift himself alongside Pele and Diego Maradona did not arrive. They starred in finals in fashion Messi could not re-create, and he blew his golden chance when placed through by Lucas Biglia. Messi opened the space out from which to score with his left foot, just as he does for Barcelona, but this was not Barcelona's Messi. The ball drifted wide of Manuel Neuer to a stadium full of disbelieving sighs.

In the first half, there were two runs reminiscent of his Barcelona self. Twice, Germany cleared at the last moment, with relief that they had survived being carved open. The first 45 minutes saw Ezequiel Lavezzi make similar surges, only to be replaced by Aguero. Perhaps Sabella wanted only one player to carry out that role; Aguero certainly proved incapable of replicating it.

Boateng in particular was the rock on which Argentine attacks were dashed. Aguero's extra-time skew said much about his fitness level; at his best, he would have run through on goal. Instead, with legs failing him, he tried from an unsuitable distance and angle.

Gonzalo Higuain could not be relied on after a first-half miss either. An offside goal would have stood had he not gone too early; anxiety clearly clouded normal striking practice, and his evening got even worse when he was the recipient of Neuer's reprise of Harald Schumacher's 1982 clatter of Patrick Battiston. Higuain departed in the 77th minute, unable to conceal disappointment at a big moment gone bad. To complete the set of sorry striking showings, Rodrigo Palacio failed to capitalise on Hummels' error with a finish as uneven as his hairstyle.

Meanwhile, Messi's touch was lost. He squandered control of the ball when finally offered the chance to run at Howedes and later, having made space for a typical shot from distance, fired well wide.

In the dying embers, a free-kick chance arrived. It was no surprise that Messi's shot made for the Maracana stands. There was a smirk of recognition that the moment had been squandered. The best had not been nearly good enough.

At the current Messi was not enough to charge the prominence he dreamed his fraternal Argentina. A Leo the end came later. With Götze could not be more timely. A little history for his courage to break with an insurmountable barrier since 1930: for the first time in Europe could provide America. The merit corresponded to a great team, a team that was always respected because intimidated. Now, Germany, with its fourth title, deserves to be admired. Nobody played better in the championship. And with less, nobody competed better than this commendable Argentina. The match magnified contenders.

It was an honorable end to Maracana, Brazil deserved a party because the cataclysm of choice can not be shelved file their indelible treasure. Germany and Argentina were thrown football to the face, in which no one was reserved anything. There were no fireworks, but a body meet a body, ringing in the two areas, with Romero and Neuer on high alert, with the Germans save sewn at the bottom, line by line, with Lahm apoteósico a Müller Bloodhound a monumental Neuer, Kroos solemn. Germany, with care, dedication and patience, has coined a great team that can create school. Argentina does not have it, but it was handled as team labored and the turbo is at full throttle. If the Germans ruled confined spaces, the South Americans dominated the open field until Messi was made an incomprehensible world.

3. Kramer's curious cameo

Both coaches selected the same teams that had won their semifinals. The lack of Angel Di Maria and Aguero suggested far greater problems for Sabella than Low. Di Maria's thrust from deep would be particularly missed.

Then came the shock news that Sami Khedira was a late withdrawal after injuring his calf in the warm-up, a desperate blow for a player who missed almost the entire domestic season and is regarded by Low as a player who binds Germany together on and off the field.

Kramer was the beneficiary of Khedira's injury; the Monchengladbach midfielder would barely have had time to tie his bootlaces before stepping into the biggest game of anyone's life to make his competitive debut. It is a shame that he is unlikely to recall much of his half hour on the field after he was poleaxed by Ezequiel Garay's unnecessary shoulder barge into the back of his head. Kramer would last just 13 minutes more before leaving the field clearly dazed, his distressed state providing another high-profile case study for the growing debate over concussions in football.

In between Kramer's collision and departure, Kroos' mistake in heading Higuain through also looked like the act of someone who been knocked cold. Higuain would perhaps have preferred unconsciousness to the blast of rage a disgusted Javier Mascherano threw in his direction after a horrendous miss.

Kroos got off lightly while Higuain will recall his error in perpetuity. He briefly believed he had gained salvation when slotting in Lavezzi's cross. Higuain raised his arms in celebration, but Sabella knew the truth; the striker was a yard offside. Kramer, during the commotion that followed, gingerly took leave of the field, destined to be a strange footnote in World Cup history.

Argentina won over his worth, at least until shown great staging on the big day. Appeared the joint team ever, but he never accepted the heroic feels weaker. Befitting its chromosome, were all Argentines to the core, with how much that means: nothing intimidated. On the orders of Mascherano, the Albiceleste buttoned close to his keeper, but did not hesitate to deploy to stampede. Messi started gracefully race citing the German defenders, Lavezzi and Higuain drew wheel lurking.

Both threw the football to the face, in which no one was reserved

Germany, glorified for life after sweeping Brazil, felt threatened, he was not against an opponent with tachycardia. Higuain made him turn pale after a grotesque error Kroos, who gave her a slut and I wanted to give the ball to his goalkeeper in traffic when the pipe was. The Argentine striker headed straight at Neuer and fired crooked line. Sometimes, as with the goal in sight, some are blind. Higuain twice, Eden had their boots. Reality overflowed. He ended up on the bench.

Löw's team, teaching and harmonious with subordinates passes, rowed down the side of Lahm and Müller, but on the other side was a considerable gap. Özil, the cold chest so many times, there would relieve Howedes, converted to a central lateral, heavy body. Sabella's team gave the riddle and downloads reached on a single evacuation route. In one of them, Lavezzi, after an excellent maneuver Messi, took up his cross and holed it Higuaín. This time, with a body offside. The next assault was commissioned captain. Messi made his for dipping left between Neuer and Boateng and Hummels swept the ball when the shot was coming.

Lahm lifts the World Champion trophy. / Natacha Pisarenko (AP)

An accidental fact corrected the Germans. Kramer, a last minute substitute Khedira, who was indisposed on heating, suffered a tremendous whack with Garay, who knocked him head to head. The boy was groggy and Löw gave reel Schurrle, who covered the gap left Özil on the left, and Arsenal moved into the center, where you have better view and less burdensome duties. Argentina and did not have a free hand and returned the fright Howedes Higuain with a header against the post when the first act was extinguished. Schurrle also produced a few shots.

Higuain twice, had Eden in their boots. Reality overflowed

Sabella, or whoever, moved to break record and Messi switched Partner: Aguero, passing times of sorrow, for the asset Lavezzi. Nothing improved the South American team. Leo stepped back, and then the pipe-Palacios, relieved-and Kun as references. Opposite stretched Özil and Germany found another resource. Not found that connected the end hook, though the shock was always back and forth, flashes by either side. Messi was not on another planet, but gave few touches. He even had the other goal Messi, the colossal. His cross shot escaped and took him to La Pulga, which gradually came to nothing.

Those who do not evaporate the Germans. Until the end choking followed Müller lost, that predator hunting goals as a safari, and lashed Schurrle. The party, without parentheses for boredom, had curves, no one was safe. Percutía percutía lush and Germany, which is not precisely blanks. This is not wrinkled Argentina privateers, the Biglia, Enzo Pérez ... The duel was stifling, high tonnage, without Blink times. With the pulse shot, and in overtime, when he cramped huddle again Argentina had the sky at his feet. Palace with the Goliath of Neuer in his face, lifted the ball over the goalkeeper. The Argentine crackled with the tibia and the ball was ballooning into nothingness. That faded Argentina, with Messi and out of focus.

With penalties to kick Schurrle ventured down the left and his center is shielded Götze, melting at all Argentina. Who knows if Messi also the last great genius, the child of Rosario until yesterday met each and every one of your dreams. For him there will be no World consolation, even FIFA, which pelotea as you want, it will take out from the sleeve a Golden Ball for best player of the tournament, only admissible if it was a tribute to his career, which seems in decline . Germany left killed the star, who betrayed his misplaced gesture. And the Germans did as ever: for good football and its indelible mark on America and that abroncó Maracana openly and repeatedly to President Dilma Rousseff. In Brazil, the World lets you over a bad grounds.

Via:ESPN