Germany won the World Cup 2014. Germany is the champions for the fourth time. They created a new record winning it first time in South America as no team other than the team from the continent had won it before. Germany blasted host out of the tournament in the semifinal with a humiliating 7-1 margin.

They beat Argentina 1-0 in the second half of the extra time through substitute Mario Gotze. Argentina had their opportunities. But they could not avail. Messi looked way out of sorts. No one could assist him. In the end best team of the tournament won the tournament. Germans went one step closer to all time World cup winners list.

One of greatest player ever Messi could not finish in the world cup winning side. Higuain missed two golden chances. In such a tight match a team cannot expect to win after failing to score from easy the opportunities. Messi also failed to score early in the second half.

It was only a poetic justice that the best team of the tournament deservedly won the trophy. Congratulation Germany and well played Argentina. Gutze did what Inesta did for Spain in 2014. Germany had greater depth and all round quality. They did not have Messi, Neymar, Rodriguez, Suarez but the entire team looked like a well-oiled machine. Team that crushed Portugal and Brazil deservedly won beating Argentina in the final.

Some Germany & Argentina World Cup Head to Head Information:
• Germany played in their eighth World Cup final; more than any other nation. They have won three titles.

• They have won just one of their last four appearances in the World Cup final (1990 v Argentina).

• Germany reached a World Cup final in each of the last seven decades (1954, 1966, 1974, 1982 and 86, 1990, 2002 and now 2014).

• Argentina played in their fifth World Cup final; they had won two and lost two of the previous four.

• This was the third World Cup final between Germany and Argentina. They met in successive finals in 1986 and 1990, with each team lifting the title (3-2 Argentina in 1986, 1-0 Germany in 1990).

• No other fixture has been played as often in a World Cup final as Germany v Argentina.

• This was the 10th time that teams from Europe and South America face each other in the final. Seven of these finals had been won by the teams from South America.

• Both sides faced off for the seventh time at the World Cup, the only fixture that has been played as often is Brazil v Sweden (seven times).

• Germany had won three and lost just one of the previous six World Cup encounters with Argentina (D2). Germany also won the penalty shootout in 2006 against Argentina.

• Germany had eliminated Argentina from the 2006 World Cup (1-1 AET and 4-2 on penalties in the quarter-final) and from the 2010 World Cup (4-0 in the quarter-final).

•The 4-0 defeat in 2010 is Argentina's heaviest World Cup defeat in the last 40 years (0-4 v Netherlands in 1974).
• Argentina have won nine out of 20 games against Germany (D5 L6), though. The last meeting (August 2012, Frankfurt) saw Argentina win 3-1.

• No side have kept as many clean sheets as Argentina in the 2014 World Cup (four, Germany have three).

• Argentina are yet to concede a goal in the knock-out stages at this tournament (despite playing extra-time in two of their three games).

First Half:
The match failed to impress anyone as both teams looked over conservative and hardly played on second and third gear. Germany had a prematch set back as Kheidra got injured in the warm up and was not available. His replacement Kramer also got injured. In first few minutes witnessed couple early chances for Germany, and Mueller earned an early free kick above the box. Klose's free kick was stuffed and Argentina started counters attacking by the 4 th minute. Higuain's shot went wide, but it was fairly close and beat Neuer.

Germany maintained early possession and they appeared, to be the side that was creating the majority of chances. Not before the ninth minute Great Messi finally got the first a touch and took it deep into Germany territory, but his cut-back pass in the box was cleared. In the very next minute another good chance came the Argentina’s way, but the ground cross failed to find a foot. Argentine started asserting slowly.

First real goal scoring opportunity came to Argentina on the21 st Minute. Higuain literally all alone after a terrible Germany turnover, but his shot was not close.  A great opportunity was wasted.  On the 36 th minute Messi nearly threaded a perfect ball through that would have been a sure goal, but it was cleared for a corner. Argentina was in control of the match after a strong German start.

On 40 th minute another great chance for Argentina and again Messi found his way in front of net, but Boateng saved the day by clearing it off the line seconds before it was knocked into goal. On the 43 rd minute Germany got the first real opportunity but feeble final shot failed to beat the Argentine keeper. The first half failed to break the deadlock of the match.

Germany's header rang the post, somehow staying out of net just before half time. It was very little to choose between the sides but Argentina made better moves and as it happens for ArgentinaMessi engineered few potent moves.

Not too exciting half, but both sides had some chances. Over all Pretty even, so far also. But Higuain should be kicking himself after two golden scoring opportunities were wasted.

Second Half:
In the very first minute of the second half, Argentina bombed down that right yet again, Higuain shot wide. Higuain was caught offside, appeared a bit tight. Higuain started going through the right wing, Sergio started playing down the left and Messi moved into the middle. In the next minute Messi played through, an excellent through ball and, the offside flag stayed down. Messi's through... but he rolled his shot just wide.

A good little period for the South Americans. They kept their German opponents waiting a long time in the tunnel at the start of the second dig, not understood whether that rattled the Germans. Germans came back in 52 nd minute, Schurrle was fouled by Zabaleta, and the referee blew. Lucky break for Argentina because that was a good position had advantage been played. Corner came to nothing because Muller was ruled for fouling Rojo. It appeared to be a controversial call.

On the 60 minute Schurrle and Ozil broke at such an extreme pace that the cross hit Ozil before he could do anything about it. Lahm and Muller were also threatening and Germany by   now back on top after a blistering start to the half from Argentina.69 th minute witnessed wonderful play by the Germans on the edge of the box, they opened Argentina up, but Schurrle's touch was mixed up.

Germany could keep Messi starving of the ball. As soon as any ball came his way there were always two to three Germans blocking his space. Absence of Di Maria was being felt as other Argentines could hardly do anything to take the radar away from the magic man. 78 th minute created a good position for Germany went to a good position as they worked an opening in the Argentina box, but unluckily for them, the chance fell to Hoewedes, who could not get the ball out from under his feet.

On 81 St Minute Lahm and Ozil opened up Argentina, and Schurrle had a good chance in the box. His scuffed shot never looked like anything other than a wide miss. For a while Argentina could not create any opportunity and were busy defending. Suddenly on

On 83 rd minute a chance came to Argentine way as Boateng slipped, Messi tried to flick through but Aguero also slipped over. Soon Gotze came on and Klose went off to a rousing cheer from the German fans in what was his farewell appearance. A great German player had his swansongs.

The match drifted to extra time with sides locked nil -nil .Both sides were still playing safety first. There was hardly any all-out attack for goal from either side. So, it will be good luck picking the winner. Only three shots were on target in the whole match yet it had been decent quality and not unenjoyably.

Messi went very quiet for a lot of that half but still had his moments. Boateng was the best of the German defenders. Muller, Ozil, Lahm were dangerous but not quite incisive enough. Match saw some the excellent run Messi made, beating four and shooting wide. It had been a defender's sort of game.

Extra Time:

First Period:
Germany went out of the blocks the quicker, no doubt. Neuer gathered a ball and initiated the attack. But Argentine defence blocked. Messi and Aguero linked up well, but that man Jérôme Boateng stood on the way like the Berlin wall. On the 111 Th minute Mascherano put in man's toil, as indeed has the player he has just painfully fouled, Schweinsteiger. Poor old Messi was just making up the numbers at that moment was wandering around up front 25 yards from the play.

The momentum picked up a bit but still nil –nil. Sorry readers it may sound strange the match started looking boring. Are they playing for penalty kick off? Perhaps the goal scoring record will remain intact. The first couple of minutes of that were decent. Schurrle and Palacio both had good chances, especially the Argentine, but after that, it was a big fat meh.Germany have never lost a World Cup penalty shoot-out but Argentina were lethal from the spot against Holland

Second Period:
The Argentines had a longer, tougher semi-final and a day less to recover. Messi, for one, does not look quite the ticket and indeed had not since half time. Finally the all-important goal came. Finally the deadlock was broken. Germany built down the left, a superb run from Schurrle sucked three defenders towards him, and he crossed for Gotze. Lovely control on the chest, and he smashed a wonderful shot home past the keeper 1-0.

Germans won their fourth world cup creating a new record for a European team winning it first time from South America. Going by the tournament, going by the momentum of the teams the deserving team won the World Cup. Europeans are first and third and South Americans could only finish second and fourth. And this happened in the back yard of Brazil. Germany beating Brazil and Argentina were worthy winner.

A hell of a goal to win it, what a finish. Lovely volley from Mario Gotze, perhaps the hardest chance of the night because both teams missed some decent opportunities throughout. Messi a major let-down, maybe not fit, he was pictured seemingly puking on the pitch although in fairness I have seen him do that before so not sure how significant that was. Messi won the Golden Ball as player of the tournament though. Neuer won golden gloves and Rodriguez the Golden boot.

The best players on the pitch were defenders. Schweinsteiger was a warrior, he was kicked and smashed in the face but he never took a backward step. Boateng was excellent and Neuer in goal was authority personified. Argentina's best player was Mascherano.

Messi missed a couple of chances and was only in the game in fits and starts. Argentina didn't have a shot on target throughout, and what more can you really say than that?

My best wishes to banglanews24 and its readers for keeping their windows open for me for two months. Will see you again in 2018 if Allah keeps me alive in World Cup Russia.

Germany: Neuer, Lahm, Boateng, Humbles, Howedes, Kramer, Schweinsteiger, Muller, Kroos, Ozil, Klose (Gotze).
Argentina: Romero, Zabaleta, Demichelis, Garay, Rojo, Biglia, Mascherano, Perez, Higuain, Messi, Lavezzi (Aguero).
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy)

BDST: 0647 HRS, JUL 14, 2014