Germany Wins The World Cup With A Goal In The 113th Minute
The final score line: Germany 1, Argentina 0 in extra time.
Germany is the first European team to win a World Cup on South American soil. Its their fourth title.
The Gotze goal that won it:
REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
It will be a game that haunts Argentina for a long, long time. Both teams had numerous chances, but no one finished them until Gotze with eight minutes to play.
Gonzalo Higuain found himself all alone in front of goal in the 21st minute, but ripped a shot well wide of the goal. A few minutes later, Higuain put it in the back of the net and ran around celebrating before realizing the offside flag was up.
A few minutes before the halftime whistle, Germany's Benedikt Howedes had a free header six yards from goal and bashed it against the post.
The second half lacked the excitement of the first, but the chances still came. Messi tried to go far post with his left foot - the type of goal we've seen him score again and again for Barcelona - but curled it wide. Later German'y Toni Kroos ran onto a perfect pass at the top of the box and skimmed it wide.
In extra time, Rodrigo Palacio had a chance to chip Manuel Neuer but popped it up and out of play.
After the Gotze goal, Argentina's chances ran out.
Messi had a free kick in the 122nd minute from about 40 yards out. It would have been one of the great goals of all time. But it went over the bar, and Germany went home champions.