Rio de Janeiro: Germany wrote new chapter in the history of international football as they became the first European team to lift the World Cup in South America, clinching a hard-fought 1-0 win over Argentina in the final, their triumph coming on the back of steely resolve and blood on the pitch here.
The golden generation of German footballers` eagerness to win the silverware was best defined by Bastian Schweinsteiger, who was bleeding from a cut on his face following a rough challenge, after the game went into extra time.
The winning goal came when Schurrle made inroads down the left hand side and played a cross towards the near post for Gotze, who took it on his chest before placing it into the back of the net with his left foot.
The result meant Lionel Messi`s dream to join the pantheon of greats such as Diego Maradona and Pele ended in heartbreak. The 27-year-old Argentina captain had the chance to win the cup for his country at the start of second half, but this was not to be his day.
It was not the free-flowing football Germans dished out in the beginning of the tournament but, on the biggest stage of all, they appeared determined to not let go of this golden chance to script history. This was Germany`s fourth World Cup triumph, and their first since reunification. Last time too, their title win had come against Argentina in 1990 in Italy.
Bureau Report
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