Dubbed ‘Messi versus The Machine’, all eyes would be on the Argentinian superstar to come up big with a win, finally ducking out of Diego Maradona’s shadow. An exciting 90 minutes would end in extra time at
The Daily Mail UK gave a slight advantage to the German side, mainly working off of history with the two heavyweights having faced each other six times; two draws, and Germany winning three and only losing one.
An exciting 90 minutes would go to extra time, goalless. With the weight of a country, Lionel Messi would be all but shut down during regular play, but Gonzalo Higuaín would have the most chances. On a lucky short head back to the German goalie, Higuaín received the ball on a one-on-one scenario but would shank it wide off his shin. The Argentinian star would find the back of the net from a Messi cross but would inevitably be called back for being offside.
As The New York Times noted, this was the third straight time a World Cup final would go into extra time, with Spain beating Holland in the last four minutes in 2010, and Italy beating France in penalties in 2006.
With a quick start down the pitch at the beginning of extra time Germany looked to score but was quickly denied. Both sides looked rather weary going through the first half of extra time, and very well looked like we might go into penalties. With a cross into the middle Mario Götze traps it off his chest and sinks it to the back of the net at the 113th minute. Heavy on defense, Germany shut down any attempts from Argentina to get back in it.
Germany become the 2014 World Cup champions with their fourth title.
Credit: INFphoto.com