Germany crowned World Champions for fourth time

                    A goal from Mario Goetze in the 113th minute of extra time was enough to hand Germany their fourth World Cup title after a hard fought battle with Argentina at the Maracana today.

The most anticipated game in sports – the World Cup final kicked off this afternoon 13/07/14 at the famous Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. It was a South America versus Europe affair featuring the Argentines and Germany or, as some would prefer to say – Messi vs. Germany. It was the Germans who got the upper hand the last few times that these two teams clashed at the World Cup, with the Europeans winning the most recent encounters in 2010, 2006 and 1990. However, the last time the two finalists clashed on the American continent in the 1986 World Cup final, it was Argentina coming out as victors. The Germans didn’t have history on their side either as no European team had ever won a World Cup in the Americas. That said, history was always there to be made. Both teams started the game rather cautiously with no real good scoring opportunity coming until the 20^th minute when Higuain should have given Argentina the lead after intercepting a poor header from Toni Kroos but he hit wide. 

Argentina thought they had taken the lead in the 32^nd minute through Higuain but the goal was ruled out for offside. In the 33^rd minute Germany was forced to make a substitution as Kramer was taken off and replaced by Schurrle. Messi then had a chance to give Argentina the lead in the 36^th minute but his shot went too high and the Germans survived. Schurrle then tested Romero in the Argentine goal with a powerful shot which the Argentine custodian was forced to save. Messi then found his way behind the German defense but some resilient defending prevented the Argentine Maestro from getting a potential goal. A quick German attack moments later gave Kroos an opportunity but his weak header was easily handled by Romero in the Argentine goal. Germany would then win a corner which was quickly put out for another corner. The ensuing one was headed off the post by Howedes but Muller was adjudged to be in an offside position. At the half both teams went in the dressing rooms at 0-0.

At the resumption it would be the Argentines who dominated the early possession as they spent the early moments in the German penalty area but Higuain was called for offside. Messi should have given the Argentines the lead moments later but his shot went just wide of the German goal. Germany would win a corner in the 55^th minute but the chance was wasted by a German foul in the area. Klose then had a half chance from a cross from Lahm but his tame header was easily handled by Romero. In the 62^nd minute Argentina would win a corner but the opportunity was wasted and the Germans survived. Mascherano would then find himself in the referee’s book for a poor challenge on Klose. Aguero would soon get another yellow card for Argentina for another bad challenge. In the 77^th minute Argentina would make change as Palacio replaced Higuain. Germany then missed a golden opportunity to go in front as Kroos’ effort went just wide. Gago would then come off the bench to replace Perez for Argentina. 

Klose would then be replaced by Gotze for Germany in the 88^th minute. The teams couldn’t be separated in regulation time, so it was now on to extra time. At the start of extra time it was the Germans who started the brighter of the two as Schurrle would test Romero with a great shot. But the Argentine custodian couldn’t be beaten. There were no major happenings in first half extra time and at the end of the period it was still scoreless. At the quick resumption Germany would be awarded a free kick for a challenge on Schweinsteiger, but the effort was wasted as it did little to trouble the Argentine defense.  Schweinsteiger would have to be temporarily taken off after receiving an injury to his face which required stitches. He would soon be back on though. Then came the one defining moment in the match as a great ball played to Mario Goetze from Schurrle enabled him to control the ball with his chest and fire past Romero in the Argentine goal. 1-0 Germany. Messi would soon get a great opportunity to level scores for Argentina but his free kick was too high. In the end, after a hard fought battle, Germany became the first European team to win the World Cup on South American soil, their fourth in the process and their first since their reunification.

                                           German players celebrate their World Cup triumph after 

                                                         defeating Argentina 1-0 in extra time.

                                                     

More misery for Brazil as Dutch cop third

                             It is generally regarded as the match nobody wants to play in, but hosts Brazil and the Netherlands faced off at the World Cup today 12/07/14 at the Estadio Nacional in Brasilia, in the third place playoff in a bid to restore a small semblance of pride after both teams suffered heart-breaking but contrasting losses in their respective semifinal matches. It was the second consecutive World Cup in which the Brazilians and the Dutch had clashed. The Brazilians were eager to bounce back after their disastrous 7-1 thrashing at the hands (or rather the feet) of the Germans which left a whole nation in mourning. The Dutch on the other hand had  fallen to the Argentines in a penalty shootout but could still draw solace from the fact that they had exceeded many people's expectations here in Brazil as many never expected them to even reach this far in the competition especially on the heels of the disastrous showing they had in the Euro's two years ago and getting drawn in a difficult group which included Defending Champions Spain. In their quarterfinal encounter in Port Elizabeth, South Africa four years ago, it was the Dutch who prevailed 2-1 after they had trailed to an early Robinho goal. Wesley Sneijder was the orchestrator of that dramatic Dutch comeback that day and a similar result would have been a fine way for the Dutch to end their Brazilian adventure, having never won a third place playoff at the World Cup before. Their last game at this stage back at France '98 wasn't  exactly the most memorable for the Oranje as they fell to a Davor Suker inspired Croatian team making its World Cup debut as an independent nation since the breakup of the former Yugoslavia. The final score was 2-1 to the Eastern Europeans that day.

                               It would be the Dutch who made the brighter start as Robben was brought down in the Brazilian penalty area by Thiago Silva in the 3rd minute and the referee pointed to the spot. Van Persie stepped up for the Europeans and made no mistake.1-0 to the Netherlands and the hosts had fallen behind for the second straight match. Robben would soon find himself in the referee's book for a foul on Thiago Silva. Soon though the Netherlands would double their lead as poor defending would allow David Luiz to head a ball straight to Daley Blind who would capitalize on the opportunity. Brazil were now two goals in the hole with only 17 minutes gone. They would then win a free kick in the Dutch area but it was repelled for a corner which the Brazilians wasted. De Guzman would then be the second Dutchman booked, but again the Brazilians couldn't take advantage of the free kick opportunity and the scoreline remained the same. A few minutes before halftime, Brazil would be awarded another free kick for a Vlaar challenge on Ramires. The South Americans couldn't conjure up anything special from the chance given as the Dutch defense held firm. At the half it would be the Europeans who went in with the 2-0 lead.

                                 At the resumption Brazil started with a bit more promise as they dominated the early possession.Unfortunately they couldn't capitalize. Scolari would then make a substitution as Hernanes replaced Paulinho in the 57th minute. Ramires would get a good opportunity to get Brazil on the scoreboard as he had a shot that went just wide of the Dutch goal. In the 70th minute the Dutch would make a substitution as Janmaat would replace Blind. Hulk would then come on for Ramires in the 73rd minute as Brazil became desperate to get back in the game. Still the hosts would be hard-pressed to muster up any meaningful attack. They would win a free kick however in the 85th minute but it was quickly repelled by the Dutch defense. Victory was seemingly in sight for the Neteherlands so Van Gaal decided to make a substitution as Veltman replaced Clasie in the 91st minute. Wijnaldum would soon heap more misery on the Brazilians as he received a good ball on the Brazilian right from Janmaat and the PSV Eindhoven player made no mistake. In the end it was the Dutch who held on for a well-deserved 3-0 win and the right to be called the third best team in the world.

Argentina in first World Cup semifinal in 24 years

                              It took twenty-four years, but Argentina have finally made it to their first World Cup semifinal since Italia 1990 after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Belgium at the Estadio Nacional in Brasilia today 5/07/2014.

                            

Argentina and Belgium clashed in the third quarterfinal of this year’s World Cup with the South Americans looking to go one better than in their two previous appearances in 2006 and 2010 where they fell to the Germans at that same stage. The Belgians however were making their first quarterfinal appearance since 1986 when they made the semifinals and eventually finished fourth. It would be the South Americans who dominated the early possession with the Europeans having to defend for long periods. It wouldn’t take long for Argentina to take the lead though as a great ball played into the Belgian penalty area by Messi found Higuain who’s one time shot  from the top of the area beat Courtois in the Belgian goal to make the score 1-0 to Argentina in as early as the 8^th minute. It was the first time in the tournament that Belgium had found themselves trailing. Belgium would win a corner in the 14^th minute but the opportunity was wasted and the Argentine lead was preserved. Belgium would then get a chance to level the scores as a shot from De Bruyne in the 26^th minute forced Romero in the Argentine goal to make a save. In the 33^rd minute Argentina was forced to make a substitution as Perez replaced the injured Di Maria. In the 38^th minute Argentina won a free kick in the Belgian half as Messi went down just outside the penalty area under a challenge from Fellaini. His ensuing effort went just wide and the score line remained at 1-0. Belgium then had a great opportunity to get back in the game as a great cross played in the Argentine penalty area by Vertonghen was brilliantly headed by Mirallas whose effort just missed the near post. It would be the best chance for the Europeans in the half as the Argentines held on to their 1-0 lead at the interval.

At the resumption Argentina would win an early free kick, but Messi’s effort was squandered and the Belgians survived. The South Americans would then win their second corner, but a cross from Lavezzi would go a begging.  Eden Hazard would soon find himself in the referee’s book following a challenge from Higuain.  Another corner for Argentina would soon find Higuain who rattled the Belgian cross bar and Belgium survived once more. Marc Wilmots would soon make a switch in an effort to revive the fortunes of his Belgian side as he brought on Lukaku for Origi and Mertens for Mirallas.  In the 68^th minute Alderweireld was yellow-carded following a challenge on Biglia. A few minutes later Argentina would make another substitution as Palacio replaced Lavezzi. Belgium would then make another substitution as Chadli replaced Hazard in the 76^th minute. Gago would then replace Higuain in the 81^st minute as Argentina looked to preserve their lead. Belgium would still continue to battle on though as they forced a corner in the 85^th minute. But Lukaku was adjudged to be in an offside position and the Argentines survived the pressure. Belgium would then win a late corner but Romero in the Argentina goal came to his team’s aid. There was still time for the Belgians to get back in the game as the fourth official signaled five minutes of time to be added on. Messi then had a golden opportunity to seal Argentina’s place in the semis but Courtois denied the striker. In the end the South Americans held on for the win and their first trip to the semifinals since 1990.