D. Ray Morton, 14th July 2014.
That cherubic scoundrel Mario Götze kisses the World Cup shortly after scoring the goal that won it for Germany
A month ago when World Cup 2014 started, football fans were greeted with the possibility of a truly great showcase of the game and we very nearly got one. Somewhere along the line it became altogether very serious. Germany were able squeeze past a stubborn Argentinian side thanks to a late goal in extra time from substitute Mario Götze to win the whole damn thing. Perhaps a fitting conclusion amidst the corporate flatulence that had filled this newfangled Maracanã stadium. Götze, afterall, is the guy who jilted the romantics of Borussia Dortmund to seek fame and fortune at the global powerhouse that are rivals Bayern Munich. Such dignitaries as German prime minister Angela Merkel and...the guy from "That '70s Show", Ashton Kutcher, were in attendance for that special moment.
Irreverence had probably seeped into the mind of any avid fan of the sport as this final developed. The game was flat, rather boring for the most part. Occasionally Argentina would carve out an opportunity but could not add a finishing touch. Gonzalo Higuaín was guilty of a bad one-on-one miss in the first half. Indeed, Higuaín (or Ó hUiginn, poet of Connacht) was at the heart of another controversial incident that probably went over the heads of many spectators as the game veered towards inevitable full-time stalemate and subsequent extra time. Chasing a loose ball in the second half, the Napoli striker was baring down on goal until German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer leapt out of the air. His knee rising like that of a Muay Thai fighter, Neuer nearly took Higuaín's head off as he snatched the ball from his opponent's path. The incident was nearly very ugly, reminiscent of Harald Schumacher's assault of Patrick Battiston in 1982. Somehow, Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli awarded the decision against the Argentine. That moment was decisive in the course of the game as the correct call would have resulted in a penalty for Argentina and a red card for Neuer.
Irreverence had probably seeped into the mind of any avid fan of the sport as this final developed. The game was flat, rather boring for the most part. Occasionally Argentina would carve out an opportunity but could not add a finishing touch. Gonzalo Higuaín was guilty of a bad one-on-one miss in the first half. Indeed, Higuaín (or Ó hUiginn, poet of Connacht) was at the heart of another controversial incident that probably went over the heads of many spectators as the game veered towards inevitable full-time stalemate and subsequent extra time. Chasing a loose ball in the second half, the Napoli striker was baring down on goal until German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer leapt out of the air. His knee rising like that of a Muay Thai fighter, Neuer nearly took Higuaín's head off as he snatched the ball from his opponent's path. The incident was nearly very ugly, reminiscent of Harald Schumacher's assault of Patrick Battiston in 1982. Somehow, Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli awarded the decision against the Argentine. That moment was decisive in the course of the game as the correct call would have resulted in a penalty for Argentina and a red card for Neuer.
Manuel Neuer's reckless knee smash of Gonzalo Higuaín, remarkably, went completely unpunished
With the game spiralling towards penalties, Germany's extra rest day and the fresh legs of Götze proved to be decisive. Another substitute, André Schürrle, was able to skip past the exhausted duo of Javier Mascherano and Pablo Zabaleta down the left flank where he crossed in. Götze controlled well with his chest and knocked it past the on-rushing Sergio Romero who had left most of his goal open. Beer steins were lifted all over Germany as the country, in its unified form, won its first World Cup.
Argentina were crushed and could not even threaten in the few minutes thereafter. It must have been an especially frustrating night for Lionel Messi. He did not have his best game and missed a pretty decent chance in the second half of normal time. To makes matters worse, he was awarded the Golden Ball award for best player at the World Cup though he himself will feel embarrassed to receive such a prize. Realistically, it has not been Messi's World Cup since the group stage. Someone like Colombia's James Rodríguez, who performed brilliantly in each of his matches, would have been far more worthy. Even Diego Maradona felt Messi was unworthy sensing that the award had a corporate angle behind it.
Anyway, it is done. Germany have their prize and the rest of the world just want to move on and forget about this. In Europe, the Germans do not have many fans outside of their own country. Only an English victory would have been more offensive. However inclined, one must admit that Germany are a good team in an international football scene without many others. They can build on this and stroll into Euro 2016 as favourites, a pedestal they have not enjoyed since the 1990s.
Anyway, it is done. Germany have their prize and the rest of the world just want to move on and forget about this. In Europe, the Germans do not have many fans outside of their own country. Only an English victory would have been more offensive. However inclined, one must admit that Germany are a good team in an international football scene without many others. They can build on this and stroll into Euro 2016 as favourites, a pedestal they have not enjoyed since the 1990s.
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