Germany Champions of the World!

Germany were crowned as World Champions early this morning after winning their match against Argentina at the Maracana Stadium, Rio de Janeiro.

It might have taken the Germans 112 minutes to break the deadlock but it turned out to be the decider and that certainly what mattered.

Argentina were presented with at least two excellent opportunities to score but Gonzalo Higuain wasted one early in the first half by failing to hit the target after a misplaced header by Toni Kroos had him clear with just Manuel Neuer to beat.

Higuain managed to get the ball into the Germans' goal and he celebrated like crazy before realising that it was in futility as the referee assistant had raised his flag for a clear cut offside offence.

Then in extra time, Alex Sabella's men was presented with another opportunity when substitute Rodrigo Palacios was sent clear but he could not control his lob which went wide of Neuer's goal.

Perhaps it was meant to show the efficiency of the Germans when they took the most clear cut chance that came their way when substitute Mario Goetze chested the ball wonderfully from an Andre Schurrle cross from the left before slotting the ball past Sergio Romero.

The win was the fourth for Germany but the first as a unified country (The three titles prior to this were won as West Germany). Joachim Low's men also became the first European team to win the trophy in South America with Holland coming close in 1978 in Argentina.

Neuer was named as the Best Goalkeeper, an award which I think he fully deserved with his efficient and calm goalkeeping, making saves looked easy when they were not the case at all.

However, the choice of Lionel Messi as the Golden Ball winner was a bit off the mark in my opinion as Thomas Muller or Bastian Schweinsteiger was the more deserving recepient.

Colombia James Rodriguez won the Golden Boot award as the tournament topscorer with six goals to his name.


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