Germany Are 2014 World Cup Champions.

                                          Mario Goetze struck a wonderful extra-time winner as Germany beat Argentina 1-0 to claim the 2014 World Cup at the Estadio Maracana.

The Bayern Munich came off the bench to coolly chest and volley home a sublime goal after great work by Andre Schuerlle on the left to end a 24-year wait for Die Mannschaft.

It came with just seven minutes of extra-time remaining and saw Germany secure a fourth world title and become the first European team to win the tournament in South America.

The match had begun at a lightning pace but faded badly in the second period and looked all set for a shoot-out until Goetze struck.

Argentina's Gonzalo Higuain blazed a glorious opportunity wide early on before having his moment of redemption stolen away when he was correctly flagged offside while finishing off a sublime move involving Lionel Messi and Ezequiel Lavezzi.

For Germany super sub Schuerrle's effort was beaten away by Sergio Romero before Benedikt Hoewedes somehow contrived to crash a free header against the post from inside the six-yard box on the stroke of half time.

Lionel Messi could, and should, have made it his World Cup moment after the restart but dragged wide and it proved to be the best of the action until extra-time when Schuerrle tested Romero and Rodrigo Palacio lobbed off target when clear.

Goetze finally made the breakthrough with his wonderful finish and Argentina couldn't recover as Joachim Loew's side held firm to move level with Italy on four world titles - just one behind Brazil.

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Wunderbar: Germany's Mario Gotze scored with a brilliant finish to put his team ahead in the dying minutes of the World Cup final against Argentina tonight

             

Goal! Mario Gotze of Germany scores his team's first goal past Sergio Romero of Argentina in extra time

             

Celebrations: Gotze celebrates scoring his team's first goal with Thomas Mueller in the dying minutes of the World Cup final

     

World cup winner: Gotze looks to the heavens after scoring his goal, deep into extra time

              

Vital goal: Gotze celebrates with (left to right) Andre Schuerrle, Benedikt Hoewedes and Thomas Mueller after scoring during extra-time

              

The agony and the ecstasy: While the Germans celebrate Gotze's goal, the Argentine players seemed stunned to have conceded so late on

              

Relief: German star Bastian Schweinsteiger cries tears of happiness as he celebrates defeating Argentina 1-0

              

A kiss for the victor: Gotze hugs his girlfriend Ann-Kathrin Brommel after winning the match for Germany with his coolly-taken goal

              

Winners: German Chancellor Angela Merkel congratulates Schweinsteiger after the team's victory

              

Lifting the trophy: Germany's defender and captain Philipp Lahm holds up the World Cup trophy as he celebrates with his teammates

After nervously seeing out the final moments of the game, the German team and their fans, both back in Germany and in the stadium, burst into wild celebrations as the final whistle blew, while rivals Argentina looked to be ruing their missed opportunities to win the game earlier in the match.
And the team's star Lionel Messi appeared stunned and close to tears as the Germans marked their win, having blasted the ball over the bar in the last seconds of the match.
Despite Germany having gone into the game on the back of a 7-1 humiliation of Brazil, it was Argentina who had the better chances in the first half - with Gonzalo Higuain breaching goalkeeper Manuel Neuer's net, only for the goal to be ruled offside.

              

Despondent: A dejected Lionel Messi bows his head as the final whistle blows, confirming his team's defeat at the hands of the Germans

              

Disbelief: Messi appeared stunned and close to tears as the Germans marked their win, having blasted the ball over the bar in the last seconds of the match

And while Germany looked strong as the full-time whistle approached inside the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, they found the Argentine defence far less porous than that of Brazil on Tuesday, and struggled to make a break through on goal in normal time.
Both teams had a chance to score in the first half of extra time, with Germany's Andre Schurrle and Argentina's Rodrigo Palacio both spurning chances to put their sides ahead.
The game had seemed destined for penalties until Schuerrle escaped down the left and sent in a cross that Gotze controlled on his chest before slamming home.