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Mario Gotze scored in the second period of extra time on Sunday to lift Germany to its fourth World Cup title with a 1-0 victory over Argentina at the Maracana. It was a titanic clash between two football giants for 90 regulation minutes as the sides traded quality scoring opportunities in the third-ever meeting between the nations at the World Cup final.
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The tension in the stadium was palpable as the match went to extra time, and it was Gotze, the Bayern Munch man, who came on a substitute for Miroslav Klose and fired home the winning tally in the 113th minute, making Germany the first European nation to ever win the World Cup in South America.
The victory is Germany's first major international trophy since winning the 1996 European Championship, and first World Cup title since 1990 when it defeated Argentina at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
Argentina have been led all tournament by Lionel Messi, who has scored four goals during the competition, but the Barcelona man was unable to come up with a necessary bit of magic late on as he had one final opportunity to find an equalizer in stoppage time with a free kick from about 30 yards, but the strike sailed well over the bar.
The referee blew the final whistle moments later, handing Germany the title and denying Argentina its first World Cup triumph since 1986.
