World Cup 2014: Germany Defeats Argentina in Final
RIO DE JANEIRO — For years, Brazilians had a phrase they would inevitably utter when things went wrong. “Imagina na Copa,” they said after an endless traffic jam or a construction accident or an ugly rash of violence dominated the news — imagine if this happened during the World Cup. It became a foreboding warning, a pre-emptive sigh at the presumed disasters that lay ahead.
Over five weeks, though, Brazil avoided any of the major catastrophes it feared. Thrilling games and entertaining soccer — as well as the national team’s own stunning collapse — generally overshadowed any logistical issues, and the tournament was seen as a global success. So it was fitting, then, that in the tournament’s final game, the Brazilians managed to dodge the ultimate on-field nightmare, too.
It could have been calamitous. For Brazilians, the only thing worse than their national team’s losing the trophy would have been for their neighbor Argentina to win it, and that possibility hung heavy over the fans at Estádio do Maracanã on Sunday. But there was no coronation for Lionel Messi and the Argentines, no party for Brazil’s biggest rival. Instead it was Germany, on a gorgeous goal from Mario Götze just minutes before the game would have gone to a shootout, that celebrated its fourth World Cup title with a 1-0 victory after extra time.
The win made Germany the first European team to prevail in a World Cup in the Americas and gave the Germans, who have made it to the knockout stage in 16 consecutive World Cups, their first trophy since 1990.
“We’re going to celebrate for at least five weeks now,” said goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who won the Golden Glove award as the best goalkeeper of the tournament. “At some point, we’ll stop celebrating, but we’ll always keep waking up with a smile.”
Shakira at fifa World Cup 2014 Closing Ceremony
How much did Brazilian fans want to see Argentina lose? When Götze scored in the 113th minute, the stadium, which was still filled with plenty of fans in Brazil’s yellow jerseys, erupted. Germany eliminated Brazil from the tournament with a 7-1 rout in the semifinals, but it did not matter; as long as any team but Argentina won, the home fans would be pleased.
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/14/sports/worldcup/world-cup-2014-germany-defeats-argentina-in-final.html?_r=0
