(image credit: parhlo.com)
July 13th was a historic day for Germany as they
lifted the World Cup after a 24-year-old wait. In a tense and exciting final
that lasted beyond full time, ‘Super Mario’ Gotze came in as a super-sub and
scored the winner with seven minutes to spare at the end of extra time. It had
all the drama, excitement and tragedy that befit a final. Germany seemed
destined to win this one, but Argentina did not make their job any easier in
the entire course of 120 minutes.
Considering the pressure both teams were in, from the first
whistle it seemed that both Germany and Argentina were playing defensively in
order to avoid an early upset. By the time 90 minutes were over, one could tell
both sides were holding off towards extra time. It would make sense in a
pressure-cooker final like this, that a goal in extra time would put the
conceding side in an extremely difficult position.
Having said that, both sides did try to break the deadlock
in the first 90 minutes, with Argentina using the momentum gained on
counter-attacks. Argentine skipper Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuain
unfortunately failed to make their chances count. Both these quality forwards lacked in the finishing department especially when they had been set-up with some fine
chances. The Barcelona forward missed a sitter when his trademark left-foot
shot went wayward. Higuain put one past Manuel Neuer’s net but the flag had already
been raised.
The pressure was always on Messi to deliver considering his
reputation as the best player in the world. Having been criticized on occasions
for not able to win his country the gold trophy despite his incomparable
talent, he was hoping to set the record straight. Germany knew they had to keep
him quiet, and without a target man like Angel Di Maria, Messi was handicapped.
Ezequiel Lavezzi was replaced on half time by Sergio Aguero who failed to
reproduce his stellar form from his time with Manchester City.
Germany brought in André Schürrle earlier in the first half
who provided the extra pace needed in the middle. Thomas Muller, Miroslav Klose
and Bastian Schweinsteiger were all getting into the right positions but finishing
was poor. At the close of half time, a header by defender Benedikt Höwedes hit
the right post and when Muller got the ball, he was already offside. Schweinsteiger
took a knock under his right eye, bled, left the field and came back ready for
battle once more. He took home a scar that he would proudly show his
grandchildren one day.
BBC’s stats reveal there were no shots on target from
Argentina and Germany had five chances. Regardless of the chances, only one
shot counted and that came from Mario Gotze with seven minutes left on the
clock in extra time. While it seemed evident, both teams would settle for
penalties, Gotze took a comfortable chance chesting a cross from Schürrle and
placing it in the net stunning Sergio Romero.
Messi now had to be the hero for his country. The four-time
Ballon d’Or winner and Barcelona striker had all the skills and experience necessary
to score a goal out of nowhere, as he did against the likes of Iran earlier on
in the tournament. That moment came in the dying minutes of extra time in the
form of a wasted free kick. Not long after that, the ref sounded the final whistle
and Germany celebrated a well-deserved victory.
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