GERMANY Wins a thriller- FIFA World Cup 2014

GERMANY Wins a thriller- FIFA World Cup 2014

The best, highest-scoring team in this World Cup 2014 required 113 minutes to infiltrate the impenetrable Argentine defense, and it took a remarkable play to do it. But eventually, finally, late substitute Mario Gotze chested down a cross from Andre Schurrle and volleyed it decisively inside the right post for a 1-0 victory in extra time and the Germans' fourth championship. 

The title by Germany represented the first time in history that a European side captured the title on South or North American soil. The Germans were worthy winners, having produced some of the best soccer in two romps over Portugal and Brazil at this tournament. The Germans had produced a golden generation of players under Jurgen Klinsmann's stewardship a decade ago, and that group came of age at this tournament.

German Goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, won the Golden Gloves Award for the Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament, while Argentina magician, Lionel Messi, won the Golden Ball for the Best Player of the Tournament.

James Rodriguez of Columbia, though absent at the presentation, won the Golden Boot having scored the highest number of goals. The Monaco attacking midfielder scored six goals in Brazil, one more than Germany’s Thomas Muller, who won the trophy in South Africa in 2010.

The night’s German hero, Mario Gotze, also made history as the first ever substitute to score the winning goal in a World Cup final.