Agency, Rio de Janeiro :
Mario Goetze’s sensational goal in the 113th minute Sunday had shattered a scoreless tie with Argentina, and now as extra time was nearing the end, the roar from Germany’s supporters at Maracanã stadium swelled to ear-popping levels.
Germany wished to hear only one sound: referee Nicola Rizzoli’s whistle.
And when the 1-0 victory before 74,738 spectators was certified, a celebration 24 years in the making erupted at midfield, on the sideline, in the crowd and in the VIP section with Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Goetze’s goal capped not only a rigorous affair with Lionel Messi and the Argentines, but completed a month of excellence in Brazil. It also capped a 10-year mission, begun under current U.S. Coach Jurgen Klinsmann, to reinvigorate one of the world’s most successful soccer programs.
“In 2004, German football was down,” said Coach Joachim Loew, Klinsmann’s assistant for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. “We took decisive steps. We said, ‘We have to invest more in the education so we are technically better.’ Just having the German virtue is not enough.” The Germans won their first world championship since defeating Argentina i 1990 and increased their haul to four, tying Italy for second behind Brazil (five). They also ended an 18-year drought without a major trophy, dating from the 1996 European Championship, and became the first European team to win the World Cup in the Americas in eight attempts.
Argentina, a two-time World Cup winner appearing in its first final since dropping the ’90 duel with Germany in Rome, has not won since 1986 in Mexico City – a drought that has further elevated Diego Maradona’s legacy and blunted Messi’s effort to escape the shadow of his famed compatriot.
Despite the defeat, Messi (four goals) was awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament’s most valuable player.
Asked whether Messi, a four-time FIFA player of the year, remains behind the legends of the sport, Argentina Coach Alejandro Sabella said: “He was there among them before. He has been there for quite a while, in the pantheon of the big ones.”
Goetze’s goal marked the first time Argentina had trailed in seven matches and snapped a shutout streak of 486 minutes.
La Albiceleste had effectively executed its game plan – absorb pressure and counterattack – but missed two wonderful chances: by Gonzalo Higuain in the first half and Messi in the second. (Higuain also had an apparent first-half goal nullified by a correct offside call.)
“As well as they controlled the ball,” Messi said, “we still had the clearest chances.”
