Extra-time goal delivers Germany’s fourth World Cup title
Goetze’s extra-time goal delivers fourth championship to Deutschland
RIO DE JANEIRO — It had more twists and turns — and almost as much blood — as a heavyweight title fight.
But when the knockout blow came, it was delivered by one of the smallest players on the field, with second-half substitute Mario Goetze scoring in the second overtime to give Germany its long-sought World Cup title with a 1-0 victory over Argentina on Sunday at Maracana Stadium.
The play started with another substitute, Andre Schuerrle, making a long run up the left side, pulling up and delivering a perfect cross to Goetze deep in the 18-yard box.
Goetze, who had slipped be- tween defenders, chested the ball, then volleyed it out of the air with his left foot.
And with that goal, Germany’s misery came to an end.
It went by the script, according to coach Joachim Loew.
“I said to Mario Goetze, ‘OK, show to the world that you’re better than (Lionel) Messi and you can decide the World Cup. You have all the possibilities to do that,’ ” Loew said. “I had a good feeling with him.”
In each of the last four World Cups, Germany had made the semifinals. But until Sunday, it
had gone 24 years without a title, and it won its first in the Americas.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Goetze said. “I don’t know how to describe it. You just shoot that goal in; you don’t really know what’s happening.
“And then at the end of the match, having a party with the team, the whole country ... it is for us, a dream come true.”
For Argentina and Messi, the nightmare goes on. Argentina’s drought is longer than Germany’s, stretching to 1986. Messi, arguably the world’s best player, is also the best player without a world title.
“This was our chance, and we felt that way,” Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano said. “We couldn’t do it. We have to lift our heads and suffer the pain. Obviously, the pain is tremendous.”
Germany had entered the game as the favorite after its 7-1 semifinal drubbing of Brazil. But Argentina proved difficult. Proud Argentine coach
“I’m very proud of the team,” Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella said. “They played a great game against a great team. I salute the players. Theymade the country proud.”
Anyone who thought this would be easy was mistaken. This World Cup final was proof that opposites attract.
Germany hadn’t been shutout in the tournament. Argentina had scored just once in regulation time since the group stage.
Germany had scored 17 goals in this World Cup, seven of them in its semifinal. Argentina hadn’t allowed a goal in 3½ games before Sunday.
This game was as much about determining who had the superior style as it was about determining the superior team. So both teams played cautiously most of thegame, hoping to avoid mistakes rather than trying to force them.
Meanwhile, Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli struggled to keep control of game that was growing increasingly chippy as it wore on.
But if the second half had been plodding, the overtime opened quickly, with Schuerrle— who had three goals in this World Cup despite limited playing time — surprising Argentine keeper Sergio Romero with a shot from about 15 yards. But Romero didn’t flinch, pushing the shot away.
Then it was Argentina’s turn, with second-half substitute Rodrigo Palacio flipping a soft right-footed shot over onrushing German keeper Manuel Neuer, only to have it miss.
Messi got perhaps his best chance to be a hero seconds into the second half, but his wide-open shot from the left wing— which beat Neuer — missed the far post by a couple of feet.
About 10 minutes later, Neuer took down another Argentine forward, this time in a spectacular — and frightening — collision with Gonzalo Higuain.
Pablo Zabaleta had sent a long pass forward for Higuain, who was racing toward the boundary of the 18-yard box onthe right side. Neuer gambled, coming off his line to try to beat Higuain to the ball, which he did, but only by leaping above the Argentine and punching the ball away with his right fist. Terrifying collision
As he did so, his knee struck Higuain hard in the head, flattening him.
That followed a much more active first half in which Germany built a huge lead in possession — 65 percent to 35 percent, a lead it largely maintained in the second half.
But Argentina nearly stole a goal in the 21st minute when a bad clearance by Germany’s Toni Kroos sent the ball the wrong way, freeing Higuain to charge in alone on Neuer.
Neuer never got the ball, though, with Higuain mishitting his right-footed shot so badly the ball went well wide of the net on the left side.
Higuain found the back of the net eight minutes later, though, taking a nice cross from Ezequiel Lavezzi deep in the area and redirecting it past Neuer with this left foot.
But while Higuain was celebrating, the official on the far touchline was holding out his flag, signaling a clear offside call that negated the goal.
Despite the big difference in time of possession, Romero wasn’t really test- ed until the 37th minute.
The best first-half chance came in stoppage time when a bending corner kick found Benedikt Hoewedes charging toward the 6-yard box. His header banged off the post, then struck Thomas Mueller in the thigh before being wrapped up by Romero.
Not that the deflected shot would have counted, because Mueller was offside.