Germany: World Cup champions!

Germany has won the World Cup, defeating Argentina in an extra-time thriller with 22-year-old Mario Goetze volleying home the winner in the 113th minute.

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Goetze strikes as Germany win World Cup

Rio de Janeiro, AFP – Mario Goetze scored a superb extra-time winner as Germany beat Argentina 1-0 Sunday to become the first European team to win a World Cup held in South America. (video highlights: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/videos/highlights/match=300186501/index.html)

Bayern Munich star Goetze struck in the 113th minute to finally break Argentina's resistance as Lionel Messi's dream of emulating Diego Maradona ended in defeat.

Germany has now won four World Cups, putting the European powerhouses just one behind Brazil's record tally of five.

"It’s unbelievable what we have achieved. Whether we have the best individual player doesn’t matter at all, you just need to have the best team,” said delighted Germany captain Philipp Lahm.

“The team stayed calm and patient, we knew that we had something left at the end."

The decisive moment of a World Cup brimming with wonderful goals came with penalties looming in front of 74,738 fans at Rio de Janeiro's famous Maracana Stadium.

Andre Schuerrle burst clear down the left flank and crossed for Goetze.

The 22-year-old took the ball on his chest and then volleyed past Sergio Romero to spark delirium amongst the largely pro-German crowd. (See the goal here: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/videos/goal-of-the-tournament/video=2405215/index.html )

Messi was largely anonymous for most of the evening and his miserable evening was summed up when a late free-kick to equalise sailed over the bar.

An absorbing first half saw Bastian Schweinsteiger running midfield for the Germans who laid siege to Argentinian territory, passing smoothly and denying Messi a route into the game.

Yet for all Germany's early dominance they created little in the way of clear chances.

And it was Argentina who were presented with a glorious chance to open the scoring.

Toni Kroos misdirected a header back to Manuel Neuer to send Gonzalo Higuain racing through on goal.

But with only Neuer to beat the Napoli striker dragged his shot wide to disbelief from fans and team-mates.

Germany continued to probe for openings, and a Lahm pass almost put Thomas Mueller clear.

The pace of Argentina on the counter-attack continued to unsettle Germany however.

Schweinsteiger picked up a yellow card for bringing down Ezequiel Lavezzi just after the half hour mark.

Moments later, Higuain had the ball in the net for Argentina only to see the goal disallowed for offside.

The second half followed a similar pattern, Germany controlling possession but Argentina often threatening on the break.

Messi squandered another golden Argentinian chance shortly after the restart, latching on to a pass from Lucas Biglia but scuffing his shot wide of Neuer.

The remainder of the half saw neither side able to get on top.

Germany controlled possession without really testing Romero, while Argentina were unable to pass a German defence superbly marshalled by Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng.

Schuerrle came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first period of extra-time, forcing Romero into a desperate block.

Penalties looked to be the likeliest outcome, but Goetze had other ideas.

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