Call them World Cup champions.
Mario Goetze scored in the 113th minute Sunday night, and
the 1-0 victory gave Germany its fourth World Cup title – and second at
the expense of Argentina. It’s the first time a European team has won
the World Cup in either North or South America.
When the final whistle sounded, the bench players raced onto the
field, joining their teammates in a dogpile. Chancellor Angela Merkel,
who made her second trip to the World Cup to see the final, stood and
applauded.
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As the German players partied, Goetze appeared to wipe a tear from his eyes.
Lionel Messi, meanwhile, could only stand and watch, hands on his
hips and brushing off any attempts to console him. This was his time to
win the one title that’s eluded him, and his performance Sunday will do
nothing to quiet the critics – talking to you, Pele – who say he’ll
never be in the conversation for best player of all time without a World
Cup title.
Messi disappeared for large stretches of the game, and whiffed on
what is normally a gimme for him. With the ball on his left foot and
German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer frozen, Messi took a shot from about 9
yards. But he mis-hit it just a tad, and it missed by inches at the far
post.
He also skied a free kick in the final stoppage time, and had a shot cleared off the line in the first half.
But he isn’t the only Argentina player to blame for this loss.
Though Germany came in seeming to be the better team, Argentina had
more chances. Gonzalo Higuain missed a golden opportunity in the 21st
after Toni Kroos’ dismal backheader, shanking a shot from 18 yards.
It was so bad Higuain didn’t even need to watch it go wide, bending
over and putting his hands on his knees as Javier Mascherano clutched
his head.
And Rodrigo Palacio botched what looked like an easy chip shot in the 97th.
As much as Messi has been criticized for his World Cup futility, so
had Germany. Though it had made the semifinals in both 2006 and 2010,
this team – perhaps its best since 1990 – had yet to win a major title.
In fact, it had only made the final at one major tournament, losing to Spain at the 2008 European championship.
But the Germans were brimming with confidence ahead of this game,
saying they fully expected to win it. Even if they needed extra time to
do it.
That 90 minutes weren’t enough to settle this final, the third
between Germany and Argentina, was only fitting. This was the mother of
all grudge matches even before it began, with Argentina beating Germany
for its second title in 1986 and Germany – led by a guy named Jurgen
Klinsmann — getting payback four years later.
As if that wasn’t enough, Germany had eliminated the Albiceleste
at the last two World Cups. It beat them in a penalty shootout in 2006,
then routed them 4-0 in South Africa to bring an embarrassing close to
Diego Maradona’s coaching career.
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Argentina fans were thrilled to see their team back in the finals for
the first time since 1990 – and only too happy to rub a little salt in
Brazil’s deep wound. Though FIFA said Germany and Argentina each
received 13,000 tickets for fans, the stadium looked – and sounded –
more like a game in Buenos Aires.
Wearing Argentina’s trademark blue-and-white striped shirt, they sang
and cheered and bounced up and down, waving jerseys and flags and
scarves.
But despite Brazil losing its last two games by an AYSO-like combined
score of 10-1, the home fans got the last laugh – sort of – with the
German victory.
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