FIFA World Cup 2014 Final : Germany 1-0 Argentina - 5 Talking Points

A packed Maracana, ornated by the setting sun, was the be all and end all for the footballing fraternity as Germany faced Argentina in the World Cup final. An intense game, with both teams probing and testing each other, saw to it that it was neither a drab, tetchy affair nor was it a lopsided encounter. It was no surprise that the team could not be separated in normal time. Thus, it took a further 30 minutes to find the winner. Ultimately, it was Die Mannschaftwho prevailed over the jaded looking Argentine squad, who on their part were very good on the night baring the closing stages. Here are the five talking points from this hard fought game.

#1 A game of nerves

Regardless how good teams may have been throughout the tournament, the world cup final always does a number on individuals and teams alike. Something which we saw in first half.

Germany, the in form team and the favourites, looked a little unsure from the start, a little stirred by the change in team line-up. Germany were far from their usual self, leaving spaces for Messi and Co. and diving into rash tackles. This was perhaps not one of the best start from the Germans, particularly if you benchmark the preceding match, which was pretty much signed sealed and delivered in the first 30 minutes.

Benedict Howedes looked the most susceptible in the initial exchanges, and rightly so. With Lavezzi and Messi marauding the German left side, the right footed left back had no or little cover, while there were two rash yellow for the Germans pretty early in the game, Howedes was on the receiving end of one of them for a tackle that could have even have been red. Added to that was the suicidal back pass by Toni Kroos that lead to the epic miss from Gonzalo Higuain.

Argentina had lots of chances to counter with German centre-backs left to their mercy, but like Germany, the stage and atmosphere perhaps had them lacking that final touch.

#2 Germany forced into midfield changes

The news of Sami Khedira being withdrawn at the eleventh hour due to calf strain saw Germany tweak their game play a bit. Chistoph Kramer, a defensive midfielder by trade, was drafted into the German World Cup squad only because of Lars Bender’s injury. And there he was, starting his first world cup game in the finals. With Kramer in, the midfield had a different look, with Kroos playing a little deeper than usual.

Kramer meanwhile, played at the top of the triangle, trying to press from the front and mitigate Mascherano. The 23 year old, however, was unlucky to have not made up the most of his big chance as he was substituted in the first half after suffering concussions from a Ezequiel Garay check. The constant reshuffling of the German Midfield, had its effect on the game play, with Kroos and Bastian Schweinsteiger having to put in a shift.

The German midfield has been one of the biggest tactical asset to the whole team this World Cup, but it clearly looked below par without Sami Khedira. This took a further toll on the balance of the whole eleven, which looked prone to counters and breakaways.

#3 Neuer: That clearance

Gonzalo Higuain was involved in some of the most critical moments of the game throughout. First, he missed a simple/golden opportunity in the first half, only to then go loco celebrating an offside goal and the most important of them all, the incident involving Manuel Neuer knocking him out with his flying knee just outside the box.

La Albiceleste supporters would be particularly aggrieved by that hard clearance by Manuel Neuer in the second half that saw him clear Gonzalo Higuain along with the ball. On first glimpse, it looked like the modern rendition of that horrendous Harald Schumacher challenge on Battiston in 82' Spain. Ironically, like in 1982, this incident had a French born striker, cleaned up by a German Goalkeeper, receiving no sense of sympathy from the referee. It was clearly not as horrendous as the original one, but still had sceptics questioning the intent by Manuel Neuer. Perhaps his saving grace was that he cleared the ball cleanly before following through on Higuain, but still it remains an important “what if” in context of the game.

#4 Argentina: More than Messi

This tournament saw people terming Argentina as a one man team. All the stories that emanated from their camp had the same feel, with rumours of coaches asking other players to pass to Messi as much as possible to people checking out the similarity between Maradona led 1986 squad and Messi and his boys this time round.

Though what was evident from this game as well as the tournament is that Argentina is no more a one man team. While the semi-finals were dominated by the watertight defence and great midfield work, their performance against Germany was a cohesive team performance, from Higuain pressing at the top to Biglia and Mascherano marshalling the midfield and some calm and collected performances at the back from the likes of Pablo Zabaleta and the veteran Martin Demichelles.

Perhaps the last minute shambolic free kick by Messi, which could have led the game to a penalty shootout, was symbolic of what people suppose of Messi and how unfair they are about their notions.

#5 Goetze- The Supersub

Coming on for Miroslav Klose, Mario Gotze may have never thought that he would be the player helping his nation win the World Cup. Having spent the qualification rounds up till now on the substitute bench, he had slid down the pecking order with Andre Schurrle moving ahead of him. But in dire need, Gotze was thrown on to provide the much needed rigour, dynamism and pace up front. As the South American opposition tired, the German stronghold on the game solidified, Gotze capitalized on a lobbed cross to score what was to become the world cup winning goal.

At 22, Gotze, no doubt, is one for the future. The former Dortmund star has shown that he can cope up with criticism and come back with aplomb. Gotze showed why he is rated so high as to even lead the lines for Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich. No matter how cohesive the German team might have been, how collective a performance this may have been, Gotze would be the only name highlighted when we would talk about the final of the FIFA World Cup 2014.