A 22-year old attacking midfielder from Memmingen has provided the goal that has secured the fourth World Cup trophy for Germany.
Mario Götze, a substitute for Die Mannschaft, came on and scored the winner in the 113th minute. The former Borussia Dortmund junior joins a hallowed group of players who have scored in a World Cup final, like Zinedine Zidane, Emmanuel Petit, Andres Iniesta, Marco Materazzi, Ronaldo and others.
Goals were scarce in the final at the Maracana but chances weren’t. Both teams had their opportunities and hit the woodwork, dragged shots wide and had a goal disallowed for offside.
It was tense game but a thrilling one, not a defensive or drab encounter like some others in the knockout stages.
Gonzalo Higuain won’t enjoy watching the replay of this match. The Napoli forward was played onside in the first half by a wayward header, a German error, but badly wasted his one on one with Manuel Neuer.
Later he had the ball in the back of the net, only for it to be ruled out as he had edged offside before the ball had been played to him. Higuain was later substituted for Palacio.
Argentina seemed to have all the luck before kick off. Germany’s influential midfield maestro Sami Khedira was unable to take the field with a calf strain, with Kramer taking his place.
It was a big loss. Khedira had been instrumental in the strangling of the Selecao in the semi.
And then Kramer, dazed from a head knock, could only last 31 minutes and was then replaced by Andre Schurrle. Surely another benefit to the Argies.
But the introduction of Schürrle was telling – the Chelsea winger has been in scintillating form in Brazil off the bench and it was his great run and cross, drawing in two defenders, that eventually set up Götze for the winner.
Löw’s gamble for Germany paid off, but Sabella’s with Argentina didn’t.
Higuain was ineffective and Sergio Aguero had little impact when he came on. Aguero has been in terrible form in this World Cup, clearly tired after a long club season, and just a shell of the player who regular terrorises Premier League defences.
Sabella used all three of his substitutes in the first 90 minutes and could not replace any of his final players ad bring on fresh legs in extra time.
With Angel Di Maria injured and Carlos Tevez missing, La Albiceleste lacked punch in the final third. Sabella chose Messi over Tevez because of team unity. It was the right call but perhaps that killer instinct on goal and mongrel was something Argentina could have used.
Many will use Germany’s win to batter Messi. Without a World Cup win then Messi will never be on the same level as Pele and Maradona, he remains inferior, they will say.
Perhaps.
But Messi is not superhuman, and neither were Pele and Maradona. Comparing different players from different eras is notoriously difficult. Messi had his moments in the final, and in this World Cup in general, but ultimately it wasn’t his day. It was Germany’s and they deserved it.
The sweeper-keeper Neuer, the midfield general Schweinsteiger, the poacher Kruse, finisher Müller, freakish fullback Lahm, dominant defenders Boateng and Hummels. What a team.
It amazes how good this team is and the fact that they can afford to have stars on the bench like Götze, Schürrle and Podolski. Julian Draxler, the 20-year Schalke attacker, didn’t even get a run. Draxler is one of the best young players in Europe and has been targeted by clubs such as Arsenal.
Germany are the best team in the world and with strong depth, their future is bright. They have the best league in the world, the best-run competition and many of its clubs are owned partly by supporters, not cashed-up foreigners.
Effecient and professional, the Bundesliga is not awash with debt like in Spain and its fans are not gouged by the prices of tickets like in England.
There is a lot to like about Germany football, but particularly its style. Exciting, entertaining, technically pleasing. A brand of football that has adapted the best practices and bits and pieces from different countries around the world.
So kudos to Germany on their World Cup win. The fourth in their history and perhaps their most satisfying. The crowning achievement in the transformation of their national game.
Follow John Davidson on Twitter @johnnyddavidson
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