FINAL — GERMANY 1, ARGENTINA 0

Lionel Messi had one last chance to save the day.

After Argentina conceded the only goal of the match, Messi stood before a free kick 30 meters out, while the world watched.

His attempt sailed several meters high, and ended Argentina’s hopes at a World Cup.

Germany, thanks to a late Mario Götze goal, won the World Cup and became the first European team to win in the Americas. It was filled with drama and tension, but the Germans were the better team in the match.

Germany deserved the trophy, in the end. It was the most dominant team of the entire tournament, playing efficiently from start to finish. It’s another achievement in a storied history for German soccer.

Argentina, now, must recover from the defeat. People may criticize Lionel Messi for not delivering a World Cup trophy, but he battled throughout the tournament. Simply put, Argentina needed something more and didn’t get it.

	Germany	Argentina
Shots (on goal)	10 (7)	10 (2)
Fouls	20	16
Possession	60%	40%

Scroll down to relive all the drama from the final.

Germany brings on more defense

Per Mertesacker came on for Mesut Özil, using Germany’s last substitution. The move brings in another defender as the Germans look to close the match out.

Germany celebrates

GERMANY 1, ARGENTINA 0 — 113th minute

Mario Götze, after coming on as a substitution for Miroslav Klose had a beautiful finish and likely gave Germany all it needed for the World Cup trophy. Götze controlled the ball off his chest and calmly finished it with his left foot.

Open cut

Bastian Schweinsteiger received a punch when he and Sergio Agüero jumped up to win a ball.

Caution

As both sides try to find gaps in the other’s defense, with only 15 minutes of play left before penalty kicks, both Argentina and Germany are playing cautiously.

Neither side wants to concede a goal this late, which would almost certainly be the game-winner. Expect both squads to be calculated in their attacks.

END OF THE FIRST HALF OF EXTRA TIME

Palacio misses lob

Rodrigo Palacio had the ball land at his feet inside the box, but the Argentinian couldn’t convert the lob over German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. It’s the best opportunity Argentina has had in 20 minutes of play.

Argentina hanging back

Germany seems to have more energy at this point in the match. Argentina has the majority of its players hanging back in defense, trying to frustrate the Germans.

The only way Argentina will threaten Germany playing like this is through counterattacks. Lionel Messi is one of the best players in the world at them, but does he have enough left?

Germany with a dangerous attempt

André Schürrle nearly put the Germans on the board seconds into extra time. After a few crisp passes in the box, Schürrle blasted a right-footed shot that Argentinian goalkeeper Sergio Romero punched away.

FULL TIME — ARGENTINA 0, GERMANY 0

We’re going to extra time in the Maracanã.

In a tense second half, neither side could break through, but Germany launched more attacks and dominated possession. The Germans have one sub left, while Argentina is out of them.

Both sides must avoid careless mistakes and build to attacks through ball possession. Watch for an Argentinian counterattack by Lionel Messi, who seems frustrated by his lack of opportunities.

	Germany	Argentina
Shots (on goal)	7 (4)	6 (2)
Fouls	13	9
Possession	58 %	42 %

Germany brings on Götze

Needing a spark in the midfield, Germany brought on Mario Götze in place of Miroslav Klose, who walks off the pitch at the World Cup for the last time.

Another Argentina sub

Argentina has made its last substitution of the match. Fernando Gago comes on for Enzo Perez. Germany, meanwhile, has two substitutions left.

Argentinian substitution

With 13 minutes to play, Gonzalo Higuaín comes off in favor of Rodrigo Palacio. Higuaín has had his struggles today, missing good opportunities. Palacio brings on a fresh attacker for Argentina.

Tentative play

Both sides know time is winding down. With fewer than 20 minutes left until the end of the second half, both teams are pushing the ball up the pitch with reservation; the sense is that neither squad wants to be left exposed to a counterattack.

In the past 10 minutes of the match, Germany, however, has been the aggressor.

Tensions running high

German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer came out to punch a dangerous ball away, but in the process, made contact with Argentinian Gonzalo Higuaín. Although Higuaín received the brunt of the contact, the foul was called on him.

https://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/large/860200902.gif?1405282416

GIF by @CorkGaines

German fans are anxious

Argentina testing Germany early in second half

Germany has started the second half sluggishly, as Argentina has had two good chances to score. Lionel Messi just missed a shot that curled a little too much.

Second-half subs

Sergio Agüero comes on to start the second half in place of Ezequiel Lavezzi. The move shows that Argentina is looking to score, as Agüero pairs nicely with Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuaín on offense.

HALFTIME — ARGENTINA 0, GERMANY 0

There will be chances each side will want back when Argentina and Germany analyze the first half in the locker room.

Argentina needs to continue to crowd the midfield on defense to stifle the German attack. It has worked so far, but Germany has begun to attack off the sides, which has opened things up a bit. On offense, the Albiceleste need to convert their chances. Gonzalo Higuaín has had two opportunities, but was offside on one, and completely botched the other.

Germany has to dominate possession and avoid giving up Argentinian counterattacks. With a crowded midfield, the Germans should try to attack through the flanks and send in crosses. Set pieces could also prove to be dangerous for Germany, who nearly scored before the half on a corner kick.

	Germany	Argentina
Shots (on goal)	4 (3)	3 (1)
Fouls	6	4
Possession	63 %	37 %

Germany nearly gets on the board before the half

Argentina’s defense

Reading the memo that Brazil never got, the Argentinians are crowding the midfield when Germany pushes forward, leading to attacks that fizzle without producing much danger.

Germany will need to begin attacking from the flanks in order to create gaps in Argentina’s defense, because right now, the midfield is too crowded.

First substitution

After his violent collision, Cristoph Kramer has come off after 31 minutes and André Schürrle has come on. Schürrle has been excellent for Germany in the World Cup so far with three goals so far.

Goal wiped off the board

Gonzalo Higuaín was trying to make up for his awful miss earlier, and launched a run that led to a goal. But Higuaín was obviously offsides, neutralizing the goal.

Missed chance

Gonzalo Higuaín had a chance to put Argentina up early after a brutal German mistake on defense. Finding himself alone just outside of the box, Higuaín pulled his shot wide left, not troubling German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer at all.

LeBron’s view

More injury troubles for Germany

Cristoph Kramer, the man brought in to replace Sami Khedira minutes before kickoff, went down with an apparent head injury after a tough collision.

Messi getting his chances

So far it appears that Sami Khedira’s absence has been allowing Argentina to get the ball to Lionel Messi. Once he has it, Messi has been using his speed and is creating dangerous chances on Germany.

Argentina has been seeking the counterattack while Germany has been patient and calculated.

KICK OFF

Typically, World Cup final matches start of slowly as both sides try to feel each other out. With so much on the line, nerves run high and it takes some time to settle in.

This one has been different. So far there have been dangerous attacks on both sides. Buckle up.

Late injury

Sami Khedira has been ruled out of the starting lineup, which is big news for both squads. The person happiest about the news? Lionel Messi.

Now, Messi could find himself with more space in the midfield to maneuver and exploit the German defense.

Bringing out the trophy

(Not-so) friendly rivalry?

https://twitter.com/demichelisok/status/488351828829302784

Argentinian defender Martin Demichelis tweeted that he had problems sleeping the night before the World Cup final in Brazil.

Translation: Even though they lit fireworks until four in the morning to prevent us from sleeping, today we’re 40,000,000 united for glory!!

The starting lineups have been set

The big news here is the absence of Argentinian Ángel Di María, who suffered an injury and then a setback in training for the final. Di María has been one of Argentina’s key players, pushing the attack forward and providing relief for do-it-all wonder Lionel Messi.

Di María’s absence puts even more pressure on Messi, and creates the need for another Argentinian to step up. Look for Argentina to get Gonzalo Higuaín active early in the match.

A peak inside the locker room

Closing ceremony

The closing ceremony is underway as Brazil says farewell to the World Cup. Here are a few of the sights inside Estádio Maracanã.

Setting the stage

This is what the 32 teams who started were playing for. Now there are only two left.

Germany and Argentina, two powerhouses in the world soccer stage, are set to square off in the World Cup final. Both sides have been dominant in their pursuit to the final and only one will claim the glory on the world’s stage.

Already, however, the atmosphere in Rio de Janeiro seems to be charged with anticipation.

Fans already gathered to watch the final

While you wait for the final to start, get caught up on all the latest

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