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Reuters

A world-class Mario Goetze volley in extra time fired Germany to a fourth World Cup crown with a 1-0 victory over Argentina on Sunday, leaving the South Americans and their captain Lionel Messi heartbroken.
The thunderous clash between Germany, Brazil’s 7-1 semi-final conquerors, and their bitter rivals had seemed headed for penalties until Andre Schuerrle escaped down the left after 113 minutes and sent in a cross that substitute Goetze controlled on his chest before slamming past goalkeeper Sergio Romero.
The magical strike meant Germany became the only European team to win the World Cup in the Americas, and left the superlative Messi without the title he so craved to crown his glittering career.
Watch: Germany celebrates World Cup victory




WATCH: Mario Goetze wins the World Cup for Germany
“All of Germany is world champion now,” the winners’ immense goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said. “We’re going to celebrate for at least five weeks now. At some point we’ll stop celebrating but we’ll always keep waking up with a smile.”
It will be a richly deserved smile.

	I can't believe it, says Germany hero Mario Goetze
As much as all of Argentina hankered for a triumph on Brazilian soil, Germany were worth their win over a subdued Messi and his teammates who counter-attacked dangerously but lacked their opponents’ more fluid passing moves.

Messi’s poor final was summed up with virtually the last kick of the game when he had a chance to score a sensational equaliser with a free-kick 30 metres out.
The world’s best player never troubled the world’s best goalkeeper, however, blasting his effort high and wide and seconds later Germany were champions and Argentina were crushed.
Argentina midfielder Javier  Mascherano said the pain of losing in extra time would live with him forever.
“It is difficult to explain. It escaped from us at the last minute, we did  everything to try and win. We had the best chances until we ran out of gas.
“The pain is immense because we wanted to take the World Cup back to Argentina but we gave everything.
"We are empty, we gave what we had and we are sorry for ourselves, for the people that came here and for the people that are in Argentina.
“We gave it all, all our bodies could endure,” Mascherano said. 


Germany’s preparations had been rocked before kickoff when midfielder Sami Khedira, one of the tournament’s best players, pulled a calf muscle in the warm-up.
He was replaced in the starting lineup by Christoph Kramer, who had only made two brief substitute appearances earlier.

	How baby-faced assassin Mario Goetze rose to the top
But Kramer only lasted 32 minutes, going off after a collision with Ezequiel Garay’s shoulder which left him looking dazed, and Germany had to rejig their side again.
Coach Joachim Loew brought Schuerrle on in an attacking midfield role with Mesut Ozil dropping back into a more defensive, central position.

Despite the upheavals Germany ended the half with 65 percent possession and came close to seeing that domination pay off when Benedikt Hoewedes headed powerfully against a post just before the interval, although a linesman’s flag was up for offside.
Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain should have done far better before that, though, when he was gifted a chance in the 20th minute following a careless header towards his own goal by Germany midfielder Toni Kroos.
The loose ball went straight to Higuain but, with only keeper Neuer to beat, he dragged his shot embarrassingly wide.
Ten minutes later he swept the ball home after a perfect cross from Ezequiel Lavezzi and went on a long celebratory run thinking he had scored, but he was rightly flagged offside.

Messi, who generally had a subdued game without making much impact with his jinking runs, did have a good chance two minutes after the break when he escaped the shackles of the defenders but his angled shot went narrowly wide of the far post.
As the half progressed there was an air of inevitability that the match would move into extra time, although Kroos could have settled it before then if he had struck an 82nd minute shot with greater accuracy instead of sidefooting the ball wide.

Argentina could have broken the deadlock in the first period of extra time when exhausted defender Mats Hummels allowed Argentina substitute Rodrigo Palacio a chance to score but Neuer came out very fast and the substitute lobbed his effort wide.
The game was finally decided by 22-year-old Goetze’s great strike, a fitting finale with the 171st goal of the tournament that tied the record set in France in 1998.




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Fifa World Cup 2014

World Cup Final: Stunning Mario Goetze volley wins title for Germany in extra time

Germany celebrate with the World Cup. Photo: AFP

Mario Goetze celebrates with Jerome Boateng. Photo: Reuters

Mario Goetze wheels away after scoring the winner. Photo: AP

Mario Goetze's winner hits the back of the net. Photo: Reuters

Gonzalo Higuain 'scored' in the first half, but was offside. Photo: AP

Lionel Messi came close but Germany got bodies in the way. Photo: Reuters

Lionel Messi was having a frustrating day. Photo: AFP

Lionel Messi scratches his head. Photo: AFP

Bastian Schweinsteiger celebrates with the trophy. Photo: AP

Germany dance around the World Cup. Photo: AP

Match-winner Mario Goetze celebrates with the trophy. Photo: AP

World Cup Final: Five key moments that sent the trophy to Germany

Mario Goetze scores the winner. Photo: AP

Manuel Neuer clatters Gonzalo Higuain. Photo: AFP

Gonzalo Higuain scuffs his shot. Photo: AFP

Germany celebrate Goetze's goal. Photo: AP

Rodrigo Palacio messed this chance up. Photo: EPA

Messi shoots just wide. Photo: Reuters

World Cup Final: How baby-faced assassin Mario Goetze rose to the top

Goetze with the World Cup. Photo: AP

Mario Goetze celebrates his World Cup-winning strike. Photo: EPA

Mario Goetze hugs his girlfriend. Photo: Reuters

Goetze volleys past Sergio Romero. Photo: AP

Goetze connects. Photo: AP

Goetze celebrates with his teammates. Photo: AP

World Cup Final: Lionel Messi still an all-time great, insists Argentina coach

Lionel Messi was mostly crowded out by Germany's defence. Photo: AP

Alejandro Sabella gestures during the game. Photo: AFP

Argentina are dejected after the final whistle. Photo: AP

Lionel Messi failed to shine in the final but still won the Golden Ball as player of the tournament. Photo: AFP

World Cup Final: I can't believe it, says Germany hero Mario Goetze

Mario Goetze kisses the trophy. Photo: Reuters

Mario Goetze, Andre Schuerrle and Jerome Boateng celebrate. Photo: AFP

Germany celebrate with the trophy. Photo: AP

Sport

Football

Young Bayern Munich forward scores tremendous goal with minutes remaining to hand Germans their fourth World Cup


A world-class Mario Goetze volley in extra time fired Germany to a fourth World Cup crown with a 1-0 victory over Argentina on Sunday, leaving the South Americans heartbroken.


Update | World Cup Final: Stunning Mario Goetze volley wins title for Germany in extra time

Young Bayern Munich forward scores tremendous goal with minutes remaining to hand Germans their fourth World Cup