14 July,2014 08:45 AM IST | | Agencies
Argentina were left heart-broken as Mario Goetze scored in extra-time to make Germany the first European team to win a World Cup in South America
Germany FIFA World Cup
Rio de Janeiro: Argentina were left heart-broken as Mario Goetze scored in extra-time to make Germany the first European team to win a World Cup in South America.
Goetze, dubbed the German 'Messi', scored in the 113th minute to give his team the decisive goal over Argentina.
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Goetze's goal was assisted by Andre Schurrle, making it the first ever World Cup goal in a final scored and assisted by substitutes.
Argentina's forward and skipper Lionel Messi is frustrated during the 2014 FIFA World Cup final match between Germany and Argentina at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday. Pic/AFP
It was the 23rd minute of extra time, that Goetze's goal helped his side lift the World Cup for the fourth time.
Both the countries failed to score in the first 90 minutes of the thrilling game which saw too many fouls and yellow cards.
World Cup final between Germany and Urgenta went into extra time after both teams failed to score in the first ninety minutes.
Lionel Messi missed an early second-half chance, shooting wide to leave the World Cup final between Argentina and Germany even at 0-0 after 75 minutes.
Messi broke free on the left side and tried to go for the far post but the ball rolled wide of the Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and his net. Messi again shot wide in the 75th.
Germany had a chance in the 71st, with the ball bouncing between players in front of goal, but Andre Schuerrle couldn't get control.
Argentina had the better chances in the first half, and forward Gonzalo Higuain was the most dangerous player.
The Napoli striker missed a great chance to put his team ahead in the 21st minute, shooting wide after an errant headed backpass. He then had a goal ruled out for offside in the 30th.
Germany was forced to play without Sami Khedira, who pulled out of the starting lineup minutes before kickoff and was replaced by Christoph Kramer.
Kramer, however, was first injured in the 18th minute and then replaced by Schuerrle in the 32nd with what appeared to be head injury.
Schuerrle, who scored the last two goals against Brazil in the 7-1 semifinal rout as a substitute, then had Germany's best chance in the 37th, but Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero made the block.
