Weekly Football News, July 14, 2014
'Miracle boy' secures Germany's triumph in Brazil
Mario Gotze volleyed a delightful extra time winner to help Germany secure their fourth World Cup finals success but their first - and the first of any European team - in South America.
Although beaten finalists Argentina had a number of clear-cut openings to take the lead during normal time, with notable chances falling to Gonzalo Higuain and Lionel Messi, Germany maintained a measure of control throughout the final and were deserved winners.
Gotze, a second-half substitute for Miroslav Klose, finally broke the deadlock seven minutes before the end of extra time with a sublime finish from Andre Schurrle's centre.
"He [Gotze] is the wonder who can play in numerous positions," Germany manager Joachim Low said afterwards.
"He is the decider who can come on and make a difference and that is what he did."
He added: "Gotze is the miracle boy - a boy wonder."
Gotze, a £31.5 million signing for Bayern Munich last summer, said: "It is an unbelievable feeling. You just score that goal and you just don't really know what's happening."
Messi downbeat after final failure
Argentina captain Lionel Messi said that receiving the Golden Ball award for the player of the tournament was scant reward after seeing his side trumped 1-0 by Germany in the World Cup final.
Messi said of the award: "The truth is it doesn't interest me at this moment.
"We wanted to win the World Cup for all the people in Argentina and we couldn't do it.
"We tried, but we didn't have the luck we had in other games."
The four-time world player of the year scored four times in the group stage but failed to add to his tally during the knockout phase and missed a glorious chance to open the scoring early in the second-half of the final.
Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella said that he thought Messi's award was deserved, adding: "He played a great World Cup to get us where he did."
Low proud of decade-long project
Victorious manager Joachim Low reflected on the 10-year project to make Germany world champions but claimed that the World Cup winners could go onto dominate international football for the next decade.
Low was assistant coach to Jurgen Klinsmann at the 2006 finals in Germany when the hosts finished third, and became head coach soon after following Klinsmann's decision to not renew his contract.
The 54-year-old tactician has since moulded an attack-minded side full of skill and guile as well as composed of players that have progressed together throughout the junior ranks.
"We started this project 10 years ago and what has happened today is the result of many years' work, starting with Jurgen Klinsmann," Low said.
"We've made constant progress, we believed in the project, we worked a lot and, if any group deserves it, it's this team.
"We've always played good football and I believe that over this tournament, over seven matches, we've shown the best performances of any of the teams here in Brazil.
"The boys have also developed a team spirit which is unbelievable. They have fantastic technical capacity and they also have the willpower that's necessary to do what is necessary."
Scolari leaves Brazil post: reports
Reports in Brazil are suggesting that national team coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has resigned following his country's failure to win the 2014 World Cup.
Scolari won the tournament in 2002 during his first spell in charge of Brazil but has been held accountable by the majority of Brazilians for the team's woeful performances in the semi-final against Germany and third-place playoff against the Netherlands.
Beleaguered striker Fred has also announced his international retirement, after scoring just one of his 39 national team goals during an ineffective finals campaign.
"For me, the Selecao is finished," the 30-year-old Fluminense forward told the Estado de Sao Paulo newspaper.
Goalkeeper Julio Cesar has too admitted that his international career is over, saying, "The time has come for other goalkeepers and I think Brazil has seven or eight who are quite capable of pulling on the national jersey."
Compiled by Marc Fox
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