~ FIFA World Cup 2014 [June 12 - July 13] ~

[MysteRy]

World Cup: Brazil vs Germany



ermany win 7-1. This is Brazil's heaviest defeat in history.

Germany go 6-0 up. Schurrle scores.

Sami Khedira scores again to put Germany 5-0 up!

Tony Kroos scores twice as Miroslav Klose scores a record breaking 16th Worl Cup to put Germany 4-0 up inside 27 minutes!


Thomas Muller puts Germany ahead 1-0 on 11 minutes.

Lineups are in!

The first big question of the day is answered: Neymar out (obviously, that was a given) and BERNARD comes in to the starting XI in his place.

The other question that some people were asking but nobody really cared that much about in comparison to the (inter)national sage of Neymar was if the Germans would keep the Phillip Lahm as central midfielder-era in the dustbin of history. The answer is YES, he stays at right back, which is what everybody was expecting.

Germany: Neuer, Hoewedes, Hummels, Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Ozil, Klose, Muller, Lahm (captain), Kroos, Boateng

Brazil: Julio Cesar, David Luiz (captain), Fernandinho, Marcelo, Hulk, Fred, Oscar, Dante, Luiz Gustavo, Bernard, Maicon

[MysteRy]

Klose breaks Ronaldo's record to become top scorer in World Cup history



Miroslav Klose has beaten Ronaldo's record to become the top scorer in World Cup history.

The German forward scored his side's second goal in the semi-final against Brazil to become the record holder outright with 16.

 It was his second of the tournament after he came off the bench against Ghana to net in the group stage, which put him level with the Brazil legend.

Klose's first World Cup appearance came in 2002, where he scored a hat trick in an 8-0 victory over Saudi Arabia.

He netted again in their next group game, a 1-1 draw with Republic of Ireland, before scoring the second in a 2-0 victory over Cameroon.

Despite Germany's run to the final that year, Klose failed to find the net again in the tournament, eventually finishing level on goals with Rivaldo, and behind top scorer Ronaldo who grabbed eight.

During his home World Cup four years later in 2006, the forward found the net five times again, which was enough for the Golden Boot.

He scored two goals in their opening 4-2 victory over Costa Rica, and twice more in their final group game against Ecuador.

Klose's final goal in that World Cup was his vital 80th-minute equaliser against Argentina in the quarter-finals, that brought the score to 1-1, with Germany eventually winning on penalties.

And in 2010, he managed four more strikes: one in their opening 4-0 win over Australia, once in their 4-1 demolition of England in the last-16 and twice in their 4-0 destruction of Argentina in the quarter-finals.

[MysteRy]

Brazil captain David Luiz apologises after loss



Tearful Brazil captain David Luiz apologised to his compatriots after the hosts suffered a humiliating 7-1 World Cup semi-final defeat by Germany.

The five-times winners were thrashed by a German side who were 5-0 up in the first 29 minutes.

 "They were better than us," said Luiz, who captained Brazil in the absence of Thiago Silva. "It's a very sad day but it's also a day from which to learn.

Germany were 5-0 up faster than any other team in World Cup history

Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar described his team's collapse as a "blackout" and the defeat as "inexplicable".

The 34-year-old former QPR number one said: "It was beautiful up to here.

"I thank the Brazilian people, and the fans are to be congratulated for all the support they gave us.

"The players are going to apologise, but Germany were strong, and we have to acknowledge that."

[MysteRy]

'Germany rout of Brazil totally crazy'



Germany's Thomas Muller said his side's 7-1 Fifa World Cup semi-final thrashing of hosts Brazil was "totally crazy".

The Bayern Munich forward - who opened the scoring in the 11th minute - said he was in shock after his team reached the World Cup final in emphatic style.

 "We can't run away with ourselves," Muller, 24, said. "Just as it was said that we were finished after the Algeria game, now we'll be praised to the heavens.

"We haven't reached our goal yet."

Muller called for his team-mates to put their "heart and soul" into one more game - the World Cup final on Sunday.

"Of course, we didn't expect that score," he said. "But you can see how different games can go.

"Brazil reacted differently and moved forward fast when they won the ball, which left more space than you get against defence-minded teams.

"We used that until the middle of the first half and, at some point, the opponent has to break."

[MysteRy]

Brazil press decry World Cup 'Shame of Shames'



Brazil's national media quickly dubbed the football team's 7-1 defeat to Germany the "Shame of Shames" and the most humiliating defeat in the squad's history.

Brazil's humiliating exit from the World Cup is as close as it gets to a national trauma in a football-mad nation whose identity is closely associated with its team.

The country of 200 million people had hoped to win the title at home and erase memories of its 1950 World Cup defeat to Uruguay in Rio de Janeiro, the notorious "Maracanazo" at the Maracana Stadium.

But instead Brazil suffered the worst defeat in its 100-year footballing history, falling 7-1 to Germany at the Mineirao Stadium in the southeastern city here -- now the infamous "Mineirazo."

Newspapers and TV commentators called the defeat the "Mineirazo," an allusion to the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte and Brazil's traumatic Word Cup defeat at home in 1950 known as the "Maracanazo."

But other analysts said the Mineirazo could not compare to the Maracanazo.

"In 1950 we felt we had an unbeatable team and losing at the Maracana was unthinkable," Michel Castellar, an analyst at the sports daily Lance, told AFP.

"This time, we knew that we had a team with a lot of flaws and that maybe they would not reach the final. Was it a national humiliation? Yes, because of the number of goals. But it wasn't a new Maracanazo," he said.

"It looked like a game between adults and children," wrote the prominent sports analyst Juca Kfouri on his blog. "Brazilian football has never experienced such humiliation."

The country's newspapers called it the biggest disgrace in the team's history, with globoesporte.Com dubbing it the "Shame of Shames."

The sport's daily Lance called last night's crushing loss "The Biggest Shame in History."

"The Maracanazo becomes nothing and literally a thing of the past," the newspaper said on its website.

The top of Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper's website was titled "Historic Shame" after Brazil suffered its worst defeat in the national team's 100-year history.

"Brazil is humiliated again trying to win the cup at home," the daily said.

The G1 news website quoted Brazilian manager Luiz Felipe Scolari saying "catastrophic result".

[MysteRy]

The worst day of my life: Scolari



Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari described Brazil's 7-1 World Cup semi-final loss to Germany as "the worst day" of his life, and said he took responsibility.

The hosts were 5-0 down by half-time in Belo Horizonte as Germany reached the final in emphatic style.

 "I will be remembered as the coach to lose 7-1 but I knew that risk when I took the job," said Scolari, who guided Brazil to the 2002 World Cup trophy.

"The person who decided the line-up, the tactics, was me. It was my choice."

Scolari described the result, which surpassed the 3-0 defeat by France in the 1998 final as Brazil's heaviest World Cup loss, as "catastrophic".

"My message for the Brazilian people is please excuse us for this performance," added the former Chelsea manager.

"I'm sorry that we weren't able to get to the final and we're going to try to win the third-place match. We still have something to play for."

Brazil, the first team to concede seven goals in a World Cup semi-final, will play either Netherlands or Argentina in Brasilia on Saturday.

Scolari has suffered a notable defeat before, when his Portugal side were unexpectedly beaten on home soil by Greece in the final of Euro 2004.

Brazil were unbeaten in 14 games ahead of the meeting with Germany and Scolari played down the absence of striker Neymar, who fractured a vertebra during the quarter-final victory over Colombia.

He said: "Let's not try to find an excuse in Neymar."

Thomas Muller's opener was the first of five goals in 18 first-half minutes, with strikes from Miroslav Klose and Sami Khedira sandwiching a Toni Kroos double.

Klose, 36, became the record scorer in World Cup history by netting his 16th finals goal - beating the record of Brazil legend Ronaldo.

Substitute Andre Schurrle added two more after the break before Chelsea team-mate Oscar netted a late consolation.

Scolari, who also had captain Thiago Silva suspended for the match, said: "We did our best - but we came up against a great German team.

"We couldn't react to going behind. Not even the Germans can tell you how this happened - but it's because of their skills and you have to respect that."

[MysteRy]

Brazil's image shattered, says Maradona



Germany's 7-1 thrashing of Brazil in the World Cup semi-final was a "hammer-blow" that has damaged the hosts' image around the world, Argentine great Diego Maradona said.

The astonishing reverse was Brazil's record World Cup defeat, their first loss at home in 64 competitive matches since 1975, and the first time they had lost by six goals in any match since Uruguay beat them 6-0 in the Copa America in 1920.

 "I said Germany were better than Brazil, I didn't like Brazil from the start, but I didn't think Germany were going to be so imposing, so devastating, so decisive," the former World Cup winner said on a chat-show late on Tuesday.

"Brazil just didn't turn up and I think the worst thing for Brazil is that they gave an extremely poor image. OK, Germany were strong but the Brazil players simply weren't on the pitch."

Maradona knows what it is like to be humiliated by Germany: he managed Argentina at the World Cup four years ago where the Germans beat his team 4-0 in the quarter-finals.

That, he argued on the Venezuelan-based TV network Telesur, was different, because Argentina fought harder and let in three late goals rather than capitulate from the start.

"I'm sorry because Brazil was so proud of its team, they wanted to reach the final, but football gives you these hammer-blows," Maradona added.

Though respectful in his comments on air, some media reported that privately Maradona was mocking the Brazilians, who are Argentina's traditional rivals.

Those reports said that just before going on air, the always controversial Maradona had sung an Argentine fans' song, "Brazil, how does it feel?", but adapting the word "siente" which means feel in Spanish for "siete" which means seven.

On the program, he criticized how Brazil's midfield and defense seemed to melt away at every German attack in the game on Tuesday night at Belo Horizonte's Mineirao stadium

"LIKE FIVE-A-SIDE"

"Brazil didn't stop anything in the midfield, anyone could get through. The defenders, Dante and David Luiz, had no coordination," Maradona said. Dante stood in for suspended captain Thiago Silva while striker Neymar was out inured.

"It was like five-a-side. You give it to me, I give it you, and you shoot," Maradona added of the ease with which Germany's strikers stroked the ball around in the buildup to the goals.

Had Germany converted a great chance, just prior to Brazil's consolation goal, and gone 8-0 up, it would have been a "global catastrophe," Maradona said.

The team suffered from not being in the South American qualifiers with the experience that would have given, he said.

Brazil qualified for the tournament automatically as hosts.

Echoing the amazement of those at the game, and millions watching around the world, the Argentine said it felt as if he had fallen asleep and dreamt about Brazil's defeat.

The atmosphere inside the Mineirao stadium was surreal, as hours of euphoric buildup turned to shock and trauma when Germany went 5-0 up in the first half.

Adults and children cried alike, some fans began booing their team and ironically cheering the Germans, and there was venomous treatment for some players especially forward Fred.

The Brazilians looked lost and startled, while the Germans seemed almost embarrassed by what was happening, restraining their celebrations and consoling their rivals afterwards.

Praising Germany's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer as a "monster", Maradona said the Europeans nevertheless have weaknesses. "This Germany is vulnerable," said Maradona, whose nation play the Netherlands later on Wednesday in the other semi-final.

[MysteRy]

World Cup: Argentina vs Netherlands



Argentina enter World Cup final beating Netherlands 4-2 on penalty shootout.

The match remains 0-0 after 120 minutes. Now it is down to penalty shoot-out.

After 90 minutes it is still 0-0. Match goes into extratime.

At halftime, it is 0-0.


Teams for Wednesday's 2014 World Cup semi-final match between Netherlands and Argentina at the Corinthians arena, Sao Paulo.

Netherlands: 1-Jasper Cillessen; 3-Stefan de Vrij, 2-Ron Vlaar, 4-Bruno Martins Indi, 15-Dirk Kuyt, 5-Daley Blind; 6-Nigel de Jong, 11-Arjen Robben, 20-Georginio Wijnaldum, 10-Wesley Sneijder; 9-Robin van Persie

Substitutes: 7-Daryl Janmaat, 8-Jonathan de Guzman, 12-Paul Verhaegh, 13-Joel Veltman, 14-Terence Kongolo, 16-Jordy Clasie, 17-Jeremain Lens, 18-Leroy Fer, 19-Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, 21-Memphis Depay, 22-Michel Vorm, 23-Tim Krul

Argentina: 1-Sergio Romero; 4-Pablo Zabaleta, 15-Martin Demichelis, 2-Ezequiel Garay, 16-Marcos Rojo; 14-Javier Mascherano, 6-Lucas Biglia, 8-Enzo Perez, 10-Lionel Messi; 22-Ezequiel Lavezzi, 9-Gonzalo Higuain

Substitutes: 3–Hugo Campagnaro, 5–Fernando Gago, 7–Angel Di Maria, 11–Maxi Rodriguez, 12–Agustin Orion, 13–Augusto Fernandez, 17–Frederico Fernandez, 18–Rodrigo Palacio, 19–Ricky Alvarez, 20–Sergio Aguero, 21–Mariano Andujar, 23–Jose Basanta

Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey)

EARLY TEAM NEWS

Netherlands striker Robin van Persie may miss the World Cup semi-final after struggling with a stomach complaint.

But midfielder Nigel de Jong could feature after recovering from a groin injury, which was expected to rule him out for the rest of the tournament.

Argentina midfielder Angel Di Maria is out because of a thigh injury but may return in his country's final match.

Striker Sergio Aguero is available after a thigh problem and left-back Marcos Rojo will return after a ban.

[MysteRy]

Sad Brazil players apologize to fans after another heavy loss



osts Brazil lost 3-0 to the Netherlands in their final World Cup match on Saturday and their players apologized to fans after another hugely disappointing performance in the third-place match.

"I don't think we deserved for it to end like this," captain Thiago Silva said in a televised interview.

"We need to apologize to the fans, they booed us at the end, which is normal, they have feelings too. It's very tough."

Midfielder Oscar looked totally deflated after the defeat, which came just four days after Brazil were crushed 7-1 by Germany in the semi-finals.

"What can you say. We came here hoping to win third place but we didn't, it wasn't our day,??? Oscar said. ???We lost, there???s nothing to say.

"We lost a goal in two, three minutes and we were chasing the game.

"We are all very sad, the people are very sad, but we tried and we tried till the end."

Robin van Persie got the first Dutch goal from the penalty spot in the third minute, Daley Blind added a second just 13 minutes later and Georginio Wijnaldum rounded it off with a third in stoppage time.

[MysteRy]

WC final: Argentina vs Germany



And Germany are WORLD CUP champions!

Mario Gotze scores in the 113th minute to put Germany on the doorstep of becoming World Champions.

It is still goalless after 90 minutes. Match goes into extratime.


At halftime, it is 0-0.
Argentina forward Gonzalo Higuain missed a perfect chance to give his team the lead over Germany in Sunday's World Cup final, shooting wide to leave the score at 0-0 after 30 minutes.

Higuain intercepted an errant pass headed back toward goal by Germany midfielder Toni Kroos in the 21st minute, but his shot went wide.

Higuain also had a chance in the fourth minute but shot wide, and found the net in the 30th minute but was ruled offside.

The Argentines, with Lionel Messi leading the attack, made several dangerous moves forward early in the game, while Germany defended well enough.

The match at the Maracana Stadium kicked off with Germany wearing its traditional white shirts and Argentina playing in dark blue.

With Messi in the starting lineup, Argentina has one of the best players in history on the field. The four-time world player of the year has had a stellar World Cup so far, and a win on Sunday will give him the one major title he is missing.

For Germany, a team led by Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger is trying to finally win a major trophy after a nearly 20-year wait. But they'll have to do it without Sami Khedira, the Real Madrid midfielder who was ruled out of the final only minutes before kickoff and was replaced by Christoph Kramer.

The Germans, whose last major title came at the 1996 European Championship, reached the World Cup final in 2002 and the semifinals in 2006. They also reached the final at Euro 2008 and the semifinals at Euro 2012.

Historically, however, Germany has been a consistent winner. The national team is trying to win its fourth World Cup, but the first for a united country. West Germany won in 1954, 1974 and 1990, while a united Germany lost in the 2002 final to Brazil.

Argentina is a two-time champion, winning titles in 1978 and 1986.

The last World Cup title for each team came against the other. The Argentines, led by Diego Maradona, beat West Germany in Mexico in the 1986 final, while the Germans leveled the series by winning four years later in Italy.

Sunday's match is something of a tiebreaker, and it comes at one of the most iconic football venues in the world.


Team News

The teams are in - and both teams are unchanged from their semi-final wins over Brazil and the Netherlands.

Germany: Neuer, Howedes, Hummels, Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Ozil, Klose, Muller, Lahm (c), Kroos, Boateng

Argentina: Romero, Garay, Zabaleta, Biglia, Perez, Higuain, Messi (c), Mascherano, Demichelis, Rojo, Lavezzi

[MysteRy]

Shakira, Santana and Samba light up WC closing ceremony



The mournful cries of millions of Brazilians were drowned out in the high-decibel musical gala during the FIFA World Cup's closing ceremony, which was graced by crowd pullers such as Shakira, guitar king Carlos Santana and also had a dash of samba here today.

FIFA lined up six events that followed a series of lavish opening acts before the grand finale between Argentina and Germany at the iconic Maracana.

The events attempted to combine the cultural distinction of host nation Brazil with a nod to every country involved in the sporting extravaganza.
 
Colombian star Shakira, Mexican guitarist Santana, Brazilian Grammy award singer Ivete Sangalo and a samba school led the musical entertainment.

Around 1,000 people were involved to celebrate the greatest values of the planet's most popular sport as the tournament closed in on its climax.

The 18-minute show inside the stadium was designed to pay tribute to the beautiful game and its 'key symbols'.

Kicking off with an expression of the sport's values through four characters Freedom, Solidarity, Passion and Diversity the ceremony subsequently included representations of all 32 teams to have participated at this World Cup, with particular focus on the two finalists: Joachim Low's Germany and Alejandro Sabella's Argentina.

Set to a soundtrack of samba music, incorporating a cast of 400 people and featuring GRES Academicos do Grande Rio, a special reference to the World Cup trophy took centrestage, while a unique tribute to the game symbolically brought together the two sides battling to be crowned winners of football world.

Shakira captivated the audience with her trademark 'la la la' song.

The ceremony concluded with a spectacular combination of music: Shakira and Carlinhos Brown performing 'Dare'; Alexandre Pires, Santana and Wyclef Jean providing a rendition of the World Cup official anthem - 'We Will Find A Way'.

Last but not the least, a medley of Brazilian songs was performed by Pires and Sangalo.

[MysteRy]

Messi vomits in World Cup final



Argentina captain Lionel Messi vomited during the World Cup final, as he has done on many occasions both for Argentina and club team Barcelona.

It was during the first half against Germany that Messi doubled over and vomited on the pitch.

Despite several medical tests, Argentina and Barcelona team doctors haven't been able to find the cause of Messi's problem.

The striker has played it down, saying it's just something that happens to him in training, during matches and even when he's at home.

It doesn't appear to affect his performance, though. Messi has gone on to score in several matches after throwing up on the pitch.

[MysteRy]

Messi wins Golden Ball at 2014 World Cup



Lionel Messi has been chosen as the Golden Ball winner for the 2014 World Cup. The award is handed out to the player voted as the tournament's best, however, it came after a losing effort against Germany in the final: 

The Barcelona ace finished on the losing side in Sunday's tournament decider in Rio de Janeiro but was nonetheless recognised for his individual excellence in Brazil.

The Barcelona attacker was on the losing side in Sunday's tournament decider, with the Albiceleste going down 1-0 to Germany after extra-time in Rio de Janeiro.

However, Messi has been rewarded for carrying his side to the final, with the 27-year-old having racked up four goals and one assist in seven appearances.

In claiming the prestigious prize, Messi emulates the achievement of the man with whom he is so often compared, compatriot Diego Maradona, who skippered the Albiceleste to success in Mexico in 1986.

Messi is the third Argentine to receive the Golden Ball, with Mario Kempes having become the inaugural winner in 1978 on the back of his sensational goalscoring exploits during the country's victorious campaign on home soil.

Meanwhile, Germany's sweeper-keeper Manuel Neuer beat off competition from fellow finalist Sergio Romero, of Argentina, and Costa Rica shot-stopper Keylor Navas for the Golden Glove.

[MysteRy]

Team spirit behind World Cup win, says Germany's Neuer



Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer hailed his side's remarkable team spirit after their 1-0 World Cup final win over Argentina at the Maracana on Sunday.

Neuer, who was named goalkeeper of the tournament following the extra-time victory, paid tribute to the squad and coaching staff, as well as the players who were unable to travel to Brazil due to injury.

"It’s unbelievable," he told German television. "All of Germany is world champions now.

"All those who didn’t play brought such togetherness into the team, that’s why we won the World Cup."

Substitute Mario Goetze volleyed home with just seven minutes of extra time remaining to clinch Germany's fourth World Cup and the first by a European side on South American soil.

The game had looked to be heading for a penalty shootout until fellow substitute Andre Schuerrle escaped down the left and sent in a cross that Goetze controlled on his chest before slamming past Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero.

Neuer's role in Germany's triumph extended far beyond his superb shot-stopping abilities as his perfectly timed dashes out of the area to cut off opposition breaks instilled confidence in his back four and helped launch fast counter-attacks.

Several times he put himself on collision course with opposition strikers but he never backed out of a challenge.

"It’s not about me and whether or not I risk my neck for the team," he added. "The team did a super job, everything was great, the team behind the team.

"We’re going to celebrate for at least five weeks now. At some point we’ll stop celebrating but we’ll always keep waking up with a smile."

[MysteRy]

Germany wins terrifically entertaining World Cup



Germany won the World Cup. Host Brazil won a world of new friends.

The now four-time champions, the first European team to win the World Cup on Latin American soil, earned the honor of lifting the most recognized trophy in sports with a tooth-and-nail 1-0 victory in a final as terrifically entertaining as the tournament itself.

Team spirit behind World Cup win: Germany's Neuer

For a 32-day showcase of football at its best, the winning goal was beautifully appropriate. Mario Goetze controlled the ball with his chest and then volleyed it into the Argentine goal, making difficult skills look so simple. Scored in the 113th minute, the mortal blow left Argentina too little time to recover.

Messi wins Golden Ball at 2014 World Cup

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, sitting in the VIP section, waved a clenched fist as Goetze celebrated. When referee Nicola Rizzoli blew the final whistle a few minutes later, Vladimir Putin reached across and shook Merkel's hand. The Russian president's country hosts the next World Cup in 2018.

Another delighted German in the crowd was International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, who'll be keeping a close eye on Brazil's next big organizational challenge: readying Rio de Janeiro for the Summer Games in 2016.

Sepp Blatter, president of World Cup organizer FIFA, and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff embraced as Germany's players went crazy with joy and Argentina's wept.

One of the ironies of this World Cup is that even though the tournament will be remembered as a resounding success, it was a headache for Rousseff and Blatter to the end.

As they handed over the 18-carat gold trophy to Germany captain Philipp Lahm, the Maracana Stadium echoed with an insulting chant aimed at the Brazilian president. There were resounding boos, too, when she was shown shaking the hand of losing coach Alejandro Sabella. Such protests were also heard at other stadiums during the tournament, demonstrating how the party atmosphere was a thin veneer for grave public misgivings about $13 billion of spending on cup preparations.

As sunset-pink clouds made way for night, and the teams treated the watching world to 30 minutes of extra time because they were still scoreless after 90 minutes, the iconic Maracana bathed in light looked like a spaceship landed between the hills, high-rises and favelas of Rio.

The 74,738 fans had a ball, especially Germans and Brazilians who didn't want Argentina, their neighbor and fiercest football rival, to win a third world title.

They drowned out the Argentine fans' tireless, jaunty singing with piercing whistles and shouted "Ole!" when Germany players' had the ball, weaving their game of intricate passing. Fireworks ripped the skies to celebrate Germany's first World Cup title as a unified nation, having won as West Germany in 1954, 1974 and 1990.

In once-divided Berlin, a monster crowd said by authorities to be a quarter-million strong crammed in front of giant TV screens near the German capital's famous Brandenburg Gate.

"At some point we'll stop celebrating but we'll still wake up with a smile," said Germany's Manuel Neuer, voted the tournament's best goalkeeper.

The biggest game in football attracted a good sprinkling of celebrities. David Beckham hugged Pele. Supermodel Gisele Bundchen snuggled with her husband, NFL star Tom Brady. Rolling Stones front-man Mick Jagger was there, too.

Even with tiring legs as they played into extra time, the two exquisitely matched teams gave and sought no quarter.

Germany brought brawn, its accurate passing and quick movement and tireless determination to attack and attack again. Argentina responded with bruising defense and craftiness and could have won had its players not wasted chances.

The inability of Lionel Messi, Argentina's four-time world player of the year, to stave off this defeat will renew debate about where he fits in football pantheons of greats.

Messi looked flabbergasted when he shot wide of Neuer's goal early in the second half, wasting a chance that had it gone in would have strengthened arguments that he is equal to Diego Maradona, who led Argentina to its last win in 1986.

For the highest stakes in football, players bruised body and soul. German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger was carrying a cut under his right eye as he walked up with his teammates to collect the trophy.

Midfielder Christoph Kramer played on for 14 minutes with a suspected concussion before he was replaced by Andre Schuerrle. It was Schuerrle who provided the cross that Goetze controlled so magically. Kramer's head injury was the last in a series at this World Cup that will put pressure on football to better protect players from concussion.

Tens of thousands of Argentines descended on Rio, camping out and driving in convoys to be in the party city for the final, their blue and white jerseys mirroring the colors of the puffy-cloud skies when the game kicked off, watched by hundreds of millions around the globe.

In Buenos Aires, fans climbed lamp posts to peer over a crowd of 20,000 people living the drama on a giant screen. Argentines too young to remember their nation's last victory in 1986 were devastated that they must again put their hopes on hold. And at the next World Cup, Messi won't be in his prime as he is now.

"I feel an enormous sadness," said 19-year-old Soledad Canelas, carrying a blue-and-white Argentine flag.

For many Brazilians, Argentina losing was the best possible outcome — other than Brazil winning itself. Many Brazilians transferred their loyalties to Germany even after it crushed their team 7-1 in the semifinals.

Although Brazil fared less well than expected on the pitch, it performed far better than many expected off it.

The tournament spread across 12 cities in South America's largest country passed without logistical disasters for the 32 teams and hundreds of thousands of traveling fans.

There also was no repeat of giant public protests that unsettled last year's warm-up tournament, the Confederations Cup. Heavy police security around venues dissuaded dissent.

But broken promises of new subway lines and other life-improving infrastructure to accompany the 12 all-new or renovated stadiums reflected poorly on Brazil's bureaucracy, as did accusations that corrupt public servants skimmed off funds. An unfinished overpass collapsed, killing two people, in the host city of Belo Horizonte.

And the largely white and seemingly well-off stadium crowds reflected Brazil's stark economic inequalities. This was a World Cup that Brazil's black and mixed-race poorer citizens mostly saw from afar on television.