Congratulations Germany
Mario Goetze scores the winning goal © Getty Images
A stunning extra-time goal from Mario Goetze was enough for Germany to win the World Cup for a fourth time.
With penalties looming, Goetze, a second-half substitute for Miroslav Klose, expertly controlled Andre Schuerrle’s cross with his chest before volleying past Sergio Romero.
Twenty-four years after their last World Cup triumph, which was also achieved against Argentina, Germany could celebrate again – coach Joachim Loew realising a dream that began eight years ago when he first took charge of his national team.
I didn’t watch all the of the final, I tuned in just as it went to Extra Time. Given the time differences the game kicked-off at 4am which whilst do-able I wasn’t keen on. In any event whilst it seems it was a decent final I managed to start watching at the right time to see Goetze score the winning goal. It was very good finish from Goetze and a goal he’ll never forget and will likely dine out on for quite some time and rightly so too! Colombia’s Rodriguez took home the Golden Boot whilst Argentina’s Lionel Messi won the player of the tournament. Overall I think it’s been a really entertaining World Cup with some amazing goals with a final that involved less of players kicking chunks out each other and more football (I’m looking at you Netherlands, 9 yellows in that game in 2010!).
Whilst it was a tournament to largely forget for England there were, to me, still some positives. I felt we started games well and much more attack minded than we had in the past and were perhaps unfortunate not to get out of the group. However we didn’t have the killer instinct up front and that really did cost us. Still focus now shifts to the start of the Premier League season and, as a Man Utd fan, a new manager in the shape of Louis van Gaal. Netherlands had a decent tournament and van Gaal showed he’ll make the tough, and some times weird, calls when he needs to; subbing your goalie at the end of Extra-Time anyone? However club football is a different beast so it’ll be interesting to see how we go. There’s renewed optimism for sure and we’ve made a few signings over the summer with a couple apparently still in the works. So here’s to a great World Cup and the anticipation of another season of football.