112th minute: The World Cup final between Germany and Argentina has seen a plenty of action, without a goal being scored so far. Perhaps we are headed for another penalty shootout. Then Andre Schurrle, Germany’s young attacking midfielder, goes on a terrific run on the right, beats Argentina’s so far unbeatable right back Pablo Zabaleta; sends in a great cross aimed at the other young German attacking midfielder Mario Goetze, just in front of the German goal. What happened next will be replayed on TV screens all over the world for generations. In a single movement of great skill and athleticism, Goetze picks up the cross on his chest, and before the ball even reaches the ground, connects with a superb left footed volley, perfectly smashing the ball to the right of Argentine goalkeeper Sergio Romero, well beyond his reach. 1 – 0 to Germany. And that was how the World Cup 2014 in Brazil was won!
Germany were deserving winners, although they did not play with the same flair that they showed against Brazil. Perhaps the fact that Argentina has a far superior defense is the reason for that. But what Germans do possess is a plenty of self-belief, which is typified by their exciting and highly talented young players – Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mesut Ozil, Toni Kroos, Mario Goetze, Andre Shurrle and most of all, Thomas Mueller. Most of the German players are young, and have several World Cups still in them. But what they have achieved last night at the imposing Estadio Maracana in Rio de Janiero, watched by the spectacular statue of Christ the Redeemer and 79,000 fans, has made them legends at a very young age, assuring fame and fortune for the rest of their lives. Generations of football fans from now will speak of Thomas Mueller, Mario Goetze and Mauel Neuer in the same reverential tones that football fans of past generations speak of Pele and Maradona. Germany have achieved something that is very rare, for which a plenty of blood, sweat and tears are shed by several dozen nations all over the world. Germany have won the football World Cup!
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But where was Lionel Messi in all this? Wasn’t this supposed to be Messi’s great moment, a moment of his crowning glory, when the greatest footballer of our generation was to be heralded as the greatest of all time, even greater than Pele and Diego Maradona? Well, Messi went missing last night, on the day of the most important football match of his life. The man who is known to put the fear of God in the opposition was strangely listless, inactive and even harmless. Germany had Messi so much under their control that they could even release Bastian Schweinsteiger from having to man mark him as the match went on. On the day he could have won the World Cup for his country, Lionel Messi had the worst match of his extraordinary career as a footballer. It was not to be for Messi, and he will be 31 years old at the time of the next World Cup in Russia. This was his best ever chance to win the World Cup, he fluffed at it, and he may never get such an opportunity again. Perhaps Lionel Messi will end his football career as the greatest player never to have won the World Cup.
But in spite of Messi’s poor show, Argentina could have still won the World Cup had Gonzalo Higuain not frozen when presented with golden chance to score a goal early in the first half because of a rare mistake by Germany’s Toni Kroos. Higuain had only Manuel Neuer to beat, but he put his shot wide. There was another great opportunity for Argentina late in extra time, but it fell to the worst player in the Argentine squad, Rodrigo Palacio. Palacio is such an average player that it is a mystery that he keeps getting selected for Argentina in the most important matches. It was hardly a surprise then that he missed the chance to score. A better player would have grabbed that opportunity.
If there was one Argentine player who did not deserve to lose, it was Javier Macherano, who showed yet again why he is best defensive midfielder in the world. The battle between Mascherano and Germany’s Bastian Schweinsteiger, the two great warriors for their respective teams, will be talked about for years. Schweinsteiger was beaten and badly bruised, bleeding from his eyes, but at no point did he consider leaving the field. A truly remarkable performance and a display of great courage and bravery.
So the match ended in abject disappointment for Argentina and great joy for Germany. Watching the great smile on Germany’s captain Phillip Lahm’s face as he held aloft the World Cup would have brought joy to football fans all over the world. And with that, the month long tournament which has captivated football fans all over the world, drew to a close. The defining moment of this World Cup and something that will be replayed on TV screens all over the world for several generations since, will be Mario Goetze’s spectacular goal. It was a goal that just had to win the World Cup!
