Final: Germany 1-0 Argentina (AET)
Lionel Messi and Argentina’s defeated players, after the final whistle of the World Cup Final.
Extra-time goal from Mario Götze seals win for Germany, leaves players rueing missed chances
Argentina’s rollercoaster month in Brazil finished in disappointment last night, after a late extra-time goal from Mario Götze in the final secured Germany their fourth World Cup win.
They left everything on the turf. As the final whistle blew in the Maracanã last night, sealing Germany’s extra-time 1-0 victory and their fourth World Cup win, Argentina’s exhausted players, one-by-one, sank to the turf as their opponents celebrated uncontrollably.
Tears of sadness overcame players and fans alike. And as millions of Argentines watched, the camera panned and lingered for a moment on Javier Mascherano, the heartbeat of the team. He ran his hand over his face and stared into space. It was clear what was going through his mind. If only.
Argentina had the best of the few clearcut chances in the game. If only Gonzalo Higuaín had punished Toni Kroos’ misdirected header in the 20th minute. If only Rodrigo Palacio, through on goal in extra time, had lobbed just a few inches more to the right. If only Martín Demichelis hadn’t lost track of his man with seven minutes remaining.
But it wasn’t to be. La Albiceleste gave everything they could but the trophy was to be snatched away.
Ninety minutes of nail-biting tension had led to extra time. And then, as the seconds ticked down and a dreaded penalty shoot-out decider creeped closer and closer, Germany created something from nothing.
Germany’s Mario Götze scores in the World Cup Final
The goal, to be fair, was a thing of beauty. It was also made by two substitutes.
Andre Schürlle evaded a challenge and escaped down the left, chipping in a cross toward youngster Mario Götze in the box. The Argentine defence realized too late — Götze controlled the ball neatly on his chest and slammed it home. Goalkeeper Sergio Romero, the hero against Holland, couldn’t get near it.
After that, there wasn’t anything left in the tank. The remaining seven minutes ticked down, but Argentina could not find a response.
The whistle blew and Germany had done it. Their fourth title. The first European team to win the World Cup in the Americas. The Champions of Brazil 2014.
After that, there wasn’t anything left in the tank. The remaining seven minutes ticked down, but Argentina could not find a response.
“We gave it all, all our bodies could endure,” Mascherano said afterwards. They did. A rollercoaster month of excitement may have ended, but the memories will live on. Especially the immense collective effort of a team that may have lost a final, but won the nation’s heart.
Coach Alejandro Sabella echoed those sentiments afterwards.
“I feel sadness not to have been able to win the tournament but pride in the team that played a great game,” he told the press afterwards. “I congratulate the players. They are a (source of) pride for the nation.”
No normal Sunday
When Argentina awoke yesterday morning, it clearly wasn’t a normal Sunday. Hours before the game the shops were packed, cashpoints were empty and bakers had queues 15-deep coming out of their doors. Everyone was singing and chanting.
But the excitement turned quickly into nerves as the game kicked off. Everyone was aware, after their 7-1 demolition of Brazil in the semifinals, that Germany had to be contained early on.
In the opening exchanges, Argentina held firm. Sabella had kept faith with the compact 4-4-2 formation that had served them well in recent games. And the Germans, so fluid and penetrative against Brazil, passed well but struggled to find a way through the blue wall in front of them. They had some success down the right, as captain Philip Lahm and Thomas Müller combined, but they lacked penetration.
As the clock ticked on and the minutes accumulated, La Albiceleste grew into the match. There was cause for optimism. If Argentina stayed solid at the back, it was clear they could cause Germany real problems on the counter. Captain Lionel Messi and Ezequiel Lavezzi had success running directly at German centre-half Matt Hummels down the right-hand side.
Messi almost laid on two golden chances with slide-rule through balls, but he was struggling to get into the game. Then, suddenly, a mistake by German playmaker Toni Kroos put Gonzalo Higuaín through on goal. The country held its breath, but the Napoli striker snatched at the ball, screwing it wide of Manuel Neuer’s post. It was a golden chance and Pipita knew it.
Ten minutes later, he had the ball in the back of the net. Tearing off toward the corner flag in celebration, Higuaín hadn’t seen the offside flag. Neither had half the country. Goal disallowed.
Half-time arrived. Germany had dominated possession (65 percent) but Argentina had had the best chances. Sabella looked to change things, taking off Lavezzi and replacing him with Sergio Agüero. Messi dropped deeper, and width in midfield was sacrificed.
Tearing off toward the corner flag in celebration, Higuaín hadn’t seen the offside flag. Neither had half the country. Goal disallowed.
The second half kicked off and it was straight into the action. Half-chances came and went. All the time, Mascherano threw himself into challenges. Higuaín air-kicked within sight of goal. Messi escaped the shackles of the defenders for once but his angled shot went narrowly wide. Argentines held their heads.
The pulsating clash continued. Higuaín and Neuer clattered into each other in a 50/50 clash on the edge of the box. Argentine fans screamed for penalty. But no, free kick to Germany instead.
Lionel Messi and Argentina’s defeated players, after the final whistle of the World Cup Final.
Then, a warning shot. Kroos broke clear in the 82nd minute but could only sidefoot tamely wide.
Extra time arrived and penalties creeped closer. The players looked more and more tired. The exhausted Hummels erred, allowing Palacio a chance to score, but the substitute lobbed his effort wide. Another chance gone. And then, the German subsitutes combined and the deadlock was broken.
There could be no response — there was nothing left to give.
As if to sum up his night, in the closing minute Messi, 30 yards out, wastefully smashed a free-kick high and wide. Game over.
The exhausted players had fallen at the final hurdle. When they arrive back in Buenos Aires today, the reception they’re given will show them that’s nothing to be ashamed of. They made the nation proud.
@urlgoeshere
Originally published in the Buenos Aires Herald, on Sunday, June 15, 2014
Link: http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/164551/exhausted-argentina-falls-at-final-hurdle.