Germany Wins World Cup Over Argentina With Late-Game Goal From Mario Goetze

In a tense match that saw a lot of action
but no score for more than 90 minutes of
play, Germany was finally victorious over
Argentina to take home the 2014 World
Cup title on Sunday with a 1-0 win.
In a game that at times seemed more like
a rugby match or WWE bout — with head
injuries, flying knees and even an eye rake
— both teams displayed hardy defenses
and a hungry offense.
Two early opportunities from Argentina's
Gonzalo Higuain failed to put them on
scoreboard. One sailed wide, but the
other found the back of the net only for
Higuain to be called offsides. His
celebration was short lived.
Argentina's captain and four-time player
of the year Lionel Messi also sent a first
half attempt within inches of finding the
net.
Germany didn't fare much better. A
header from Benedikt Höwedes bounced
off of the post toward the end of the first
half and the game remained scoreless as
the teams marched off the field.
And that's how it stayed for the second
half and the first part of extra time; both
teams fighting hard to gain ground as time
ticked away.
It seemed like the game was headed
toward a penalty shootout, as several
games of this World Cup did, until
Germany's Mario Goetze, in the 113th
minute of time, chested down an André
Schürrle cross before volleying it past
Argentina goalie Sergio Romero to win
and take home the victory.
The win makes Germany four-time World
Cup champions, but it is the first win as a
unified nation. The victory also gives them
the honor of being the first European
team to win the title on South American
soil.
This is the second time Germany has
defeated Argentina for a World Cup title,
having done so in 1990, the last time they
won.