World Cup Final: Freude, schoener, Goetze-funken.

WORLD CUP 2014
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Germany 1 Goetze 113
Argentina 0
After extra time

Germany Neuer - Lahm (c), Boateng, Hummels, Hoewedes - Kramer (Schuerrle 32), Schweinsteiger, Mueller, Kroos, Oezil (Mertesacker 120) - Klose (Goetze 88) Subs not used Zieler, Grosskreutz, Ginter, Podolski, Draxler, Durm, Weidenfeller, Khedira Booked Schweinsteiger, Howedes
Argentina Romero - Zabaleta, Demichelis, Garay, Rojo - Biglia, Mascherano, Perez (Gago 86) - Higuain (Palacio 78), Messi (c), Lavezzi (Aguero 46) Subs not used Orion, Campagnaro, Di Maria, Rodriguez, Augusto Fernandez, Federico Fernandez, Alvarez, Basanta, Andujar Booked Mascherano, Aguero
Attendance 74,738 at the Estadio Maracanã Referee Nicola Rizzoli (Italy)
Kick-off 8pm BST. Live on BBC One and ITV1.

GERMANY won the World Cup as a unified country for the first time ever after Mario Goetze's wonderful extra time goal beat Argentina in the Estadio Maracanã.

Just as the Final appeared destined for the dreaded penalty kicks, substitute Goetze took Andre Schuerrle's cross on his chest and volleyed a left-foot shot across Sergio Romero into the net.

It was a magnificent and historic end to a magical first World Cup in Brazil for 64 years - and it was also a goal which ended 18 years of hurt for the Germans, since their victory at Euro 96.

For the Nationalmannschaft, such a winless streak was considered a drought - and the frustration levels only mounted further following appearances in the last four of every tournament since they hosted the World Cup in 2006.

This time, though, Germany have generally looked ready, something which they amply demonstrated in destroying hosts Brazil 7-1 in the semi final.

But, as it happened, the early stages of the Final were actually dominated by Argentina.

Unfortunately for La Albiceleste, the best of these early chances fell to an off-colour Gonzalo Higuain, rather than the usually lethal Lionel Messi.

First, on 20 minutes, Higuain spurned a glorious one-on-one chance after he had been put through by an almost disastrous back-header by Toni Kroos.

Then, 10 minutes later, the Napoli striker was denied - correctly - by the offside flag, having failed to time his run to meet Ezequiel Lavezzi's cross.

At the other end, Germany had been restricted to half-chances, their rhythm from previous games perhaps upset by a late calf injury to Sami Khedira.

The midfielder was replaced in the starting line-up by Christoph Kramer - who was not even in the original 30-man squad - but then he could only last 30 minutes before taking a knock and being subbed for Schuerrle.

It was almost a move which paid immediate dividends with Schuerrle providing Germany's best moment until then of the half, his rising drive being saved well by Romero.

Shortly after that, a fantastically open game went close to finding its first goal when Messi - finding a lot of joy down the right - had a squeezed effort hacked off the line by Jerome Boateng.

And, indeed, for the most of the first half, Argentina enjoyed the best of the chances. As the interval neared, though, Germany showed just how dangerous they could be.

A corner floated in by Kroos found Benedikt Hoewedes barely six yards out with the goal at his mercy.

However, the Schalke centre-back mistimed his header and could only hit the post, meaning the teams went in at half time at 0-0 - when it really should have been at least 1-1.

The start of the second period saw the play swing back to Argentina - but, this time, Messi really should have done better than to drag his shot across the goal having beaten offside.

Nevertheless, Germany were clearly showing signs of being rattled. Schweinsteiger and Howedes both picked up cheap bookings - and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer clattered Higuain in the air, having come flying out of his goal.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the game became a little fragmented, and Argentina drew level on yellow cards as Javier Mascherano and sub Sergio Aguero went in the book in quick succession.

Still, surely the 0-0 scoreline would set up a grandstand finish...

Well, unfortunately, not quite - not within the 90 minutes, anyway. Kroos came closest to breaking the deadlock, only for his side-footed effort to be saved comfortably by Romero.

So, onto extra time then, for the third World Cup Final in a row - and, while the game had somewhat drifted in the second half, the 30-minute additional period started with a bang.

This time, Germany had the first chance, Schuerrle again bringing Romero into action - before, at the other end, Boateng blocked a dangerous Aguero ball intended for Messi.

Next came another massive chance for Argentina - as substitute Rodrigo Palacio easily beat the tiring Mat Hummels for pace before chipping wide as Neuer spread himself.

Considering the largely positive play throughout, this Final undoubtedly deserved a proper winner, without the need for spot-kicks.

But, with so many really good chances being missed, it was hard not to begin assuming penalties were in the offing.

Thankfully, neither of the sides had settled for that risky outcome - and the match remained an exciting contest, yet still more absorbing in the growing realisation that just one goal would be enough.

Desperation for that special moment hung tensely in the Rio de Janiero air as Argentina sought a famous victory in the country of their greatest rivals and the Germans looked for a successful culmination to all of their hard work.

Ultimately, it was the latter which won out - and, considering the effect that those four successive near-misses could have had on Germany, this was a heartening demonstration of the idea that persistence pays off - eventually.

Indeed, if anything, the whole 2006 to 2012 period has only served to make the team's desire to succeed even stronger.

And, let us not doubt for a second that this has been a team effort, with little cause to pick out individuals.

Nevertheless, this report cannot be completed without some praise of the poacher extraordinaire, Miroslav Klose.

Already the all-time leading World Cup scorer after his goal against Brazil in the semi, 36-year-old Klose now has a winner's medal to go alongside his individual achievement.

Klose aside, Germany are far from an ageing team, however.

Having become the first European team ever to win a World Cup on South American soil, the valid question which must be asked is if they will now become the dominant force in world football.

Neuer, Mueller, Goetze, Schuerrle, Kroos, Mesut Oezil, and Bastian Schweinsteiger will all go on for some time yet. The unfortunate Marco Reus - absent from Brazil through injury - can be easily added back into mix.

But the man who really makes it stick is Joachim Loew. Head coach now for eight years to the very day, Loew has overseen an exciting transition in the Nationalmannschaft under his tutelage.

From encouraging pretenders to unfortunate nearly men - and now finally a team which has truly flowered into an Ode to Joy.

Herzliche Glückwünsche, Deutschland - die Weltmeister 2014. Congratulations, Germany! World champions 2014.