Germany beats Argentina with Mario Götze's late goal win World Cup final............
 |
| Both Teams Ready |
When the goal finally came after 112 minutes of a long, exhausting night, some in the German entourage seemed hoping to replicate the ignominious end to the 1999 Ryder Cup in Brookline. The final shot carried the team en masse from the dugout to the other side, where Andre Schürrle set up Mario Götze at the decisive moment.
Götze intercepted Schürrle's cross with his chest and with his first touch. His second goal was a left-footed volley into the net, making Germany look back fondly on Rio de Janeiro the same way they did in Berne 1954, Munich 1974 and Rome 1990.
Even if they hadn't played with the awe that had made Brazil's semi-final a disastrous test, they were worthy champions and this goal was a magnificent one that ensured they would have their name engraved on the trophy for the fourth time. This is the culmination of a story that inspires others. It combines intelligent forward thinking and other well-known German attributes. Götze is a worthy match-winner and part of a new generation of players coming off the assembly line.
This team took a while to build, but the old attributes that formed the basis of great German teams are still there. Bastian Schweinsteiger embodied it all in midfield. In extra time, Schweinsteiger's face was cut open by Sergio Aguero's loose arm. He received stitches off the pitch and felt pain in his leg as the needle went in, but he was back on his feet, demanding the ball and organising his teammates. Joachim Löw's men had to deal with the absence of Sami Khedira, who sustained a calf injury during the warm-up, and substitute Christoph Kramer being sent off in the first half for a foul on Ezequiel Garay. Struggling at times to maintain their usual momentum, Argentina's suffering was not alleviated by missed chances from Gonzalo Higuain and Lionel Messi to stage what Brazilians call a "pesadoro" before extra time.
Indeed, the first hour was enough to energize the loud and rowdy Argentine fans, who crossed the border to turn the Sambadromo and Avenida Atlantica into makeshift festival sites and blare out provocative songs about Maradona being better than Pele. But extra time also gave the feeling that Alejandro Sabella's men were beginning to tire. A defensive performance when they conceded ultimately borne that out. Argentina played a wide range of incisive plays from the beginning of the match and, despite their defeat, showed why Lothar Matthäus and Franz Beckenbauer were wrong that victory was practically a foregone conclusion. "It could only be Germany," Beckenbauer bravely stated, but the truth is that Sabella's team and the little guy wearing the number 10 were far too talented to be so underestimated.
Unfortunately for Messi, he will always remember this scene, because two minutes into the second half, a pass from Higuain sliced through the German defence and the four-time Ballon d'Or winner had a chance with the ball at his feet, but no one but Neuer stood between him and the gate. Perhaps Messi was trying too hard to be precise, given the quality of the goalkeeper in front of him. His shot missed by a metre. Even in a career full of success, that mistake will probably always haunt him. Higuain may have similar feelings about the chance he squandered after Toni Kroos surprised Neuer with a header in the 20th minute.
Like Messi, Higuain broke free and darted towards goal, but then lost his nerve. His shot was wild, perhaps even slightly panicked, and even at this early stage it was tempting to wonder if it might have been a crucial mistake.
Higuain may also be looking back at a goal that was called off in a first-half moment when Argentina seemed absolutely determined to prove they were a better team than they had been against the Netherlands in the semi-final. There was also a strong suspicion they had identified Germany left-back Benedikt Howedes as vulnerable, which seemed a wise strategy in this part of the game. Javier Mascherano was outstanding once again, but was lucky not to receive a second yellow card after mistimed at least two tackles.
Germany backed off slightly, but came close to a breakthrough just before half-time when Hededes burst into a crowded penalty area and headed a Thomas Müller corner kick against the post.
Müller was mainly involved in the attack on the right wing, but Germany were strangely lacking in creativity at times. Mesut Özil was out for too long and Kroos was not at his best.
If anything, it was the substitutes who adapted smoothly to the situation on this night and ultimately won the game. Schurrle quickly returned to the game after coming on as a replacement for Kramer and tested Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero with several chances. His energetic runs towards goal emerged at a point in the game that was already in danger of going to penalties. Götze, whose arrival perhaps signalled the end of Miroslav Klose's international career, secured an elegant finish.
 |
| 2022 WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS |
