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Whatever happened in Monday morning’s World Cup final, it has been an exhilarating tournament. Germany and Argentina have both played their part in restoring some faith in the world of football.
Going into the World Cup, there was plenty of scrutiny on the fact Brazilian authorities had by and large failed to build the infrastructure required to host the world’s biggest sporting event.
And when Brazil kicked off the tournament against Croatia at a cobbled-together Arena de Sao Paulo just over a month ago, it looked like the tournament could be another FIFA-run debacle.
When Fred was awarded a hugely contentious penalty, the conspiracy theorists howled that the host nation was going to be granted a guaranteed passage to the final.
Unfortunately, the soothsayers failed to bargain on the presence of Germany, and Brazil’s humiliation was completed with a dismal 3-0 thrashing at the hands of the Netherlands in Sunday’s third-place playoff.
The Dutch were one of the surprise packages of the tournament – much changed from the team that reached the 2010 final under Bert van Marwijk, but no less effective under Manchester United-bound Louis van Gaal.
Yet it was neighbours Germany who really impressed, finally putting years of potential into practice by winning their first World Cup final since 1990.
I stuck my neck out and predicted a 2-0 win for the Germans pre-game, and I wasn’t too far off – but Jogi Löw’s side have produced some simply thrilling football in the World Cup, capped off by Mario Götze’s goal in the second period of extra time.
Thomas Müller rattled home five goals and had a chance to finish above Colombian hotshot James Rodriguez. While the Bayern Munich star has been in scintillating form, so too have several of his teammates.
Real Madrid must be laughing at fellow moneybags Paris Saint-Germain’s misfortune, after the Spaniards landed Germany’s star midfielder Toni Kroos – while PSG console themselves with the signing of Brazilian anti-hero David Luiz.
Kroos has proved himself to be an eminently capable playmaker – has anyone else forgotten all about Marco Reus? – and perhaps Bayern’s unwillingness to pay Kroos a top-shelf salary is a rare piece of bad business by the Bavarians.
But while Germany has the likes of Müller, Kroos and World Cup record goal scorer Miroslav Klose to thank for their place atop the World Cup mountain, Argentina too has had plenty of stars.
Lionel Messi claimed the Golden Ball for himself – though you would have thought he’d need a hat-trick to win it outright.
But it’s the terrier-like Javier Mascherano who has really made a difference, to the point that it would be a shame to see the Barcelona bulldog end up on the losing side.
Mascherano has looked an absolute world-beater in the colours of La Albiceleste, suggesting that international football still holds an allure unmatched in the world of football.
And for all its myriad problems, not least the sheer cost of putting on a tournament which has led to the displacement of thousands of Brazilians, the World Cup has delivered where it matters most – on the pitch.
Hopefully Monday’s final continued the theme of fascinating football, although given what’s at stake, it’s never a surprise to see a cagey affair.
However, that would be out of character for a tournament which has seen plenty of die-hard fans fall back in love with the sport.
And if the 2014 FIFA World Cup has taught us anything, it’s that for all the off-field dramas, football is still a contest which captures the heart and mind like no other.
Here’s to a fitting climax to what has been a wonderful tournament then, with fans the real winners of this stunning World Cup.