The 2014 World Cup Final was an
entertaining match that saw Germany,
the tournament's best side, come out
1-0 winners over Argentina after
extra time. Wednesday's game was a
rematch between the teams, but it
came nowhere near close to matching
the intensity from what we saw in
Brazil . It was plenty of fun, though,
with Argentina downing the world
champions, 4-2.
The Germans didn't bring out the
World Cup Trophy in respect for
Argentina, but the game started
slightly late due to it being the first
home match since the mid-July
triumph in Rio. Bastian
Schweinsteiger was named captain of
Die Nationalmannschaft this week, but
was unable to take part in the match
due to a knee injury. This meant
Manuel Neuer was Germany's
captain. New Argentina boss Tata
Martino was without Lionel Messi ,
but many of the players who were
equally responsible for getting La
Albiceleste to the final took part in
this friendly.
Somewhat predictably, Martin
Demichelis picked up the first booking
of the match in the 17th minute for a
poor challenge taking out Marco
Reus. Twenty minutes in, Sergio
Agüero got on the end of a beautiful
outside-of-the-foot ball from just
outside the area put in by new
Manchester rival Ángel di Maria to
put the visitors up, 1-0. Germany had
a great chance after Argentina
committed a sloppy turnover in their
defensive third, but Sergio Romero
was up to the task and saved the shot
from Mario Gòmez. Agüero missed a
chance to double his money 33
minutes on when his shot went just
wide left after breaking down the
right.
Promising Schalke youngster Julian
Draxler was forced off with an injury
in the 34th minute, and was replaced
by Lukas Podolski . Draxler was able
to jog off, so it was mostly
precautionary.
Draxler off, dead leg
(possibly)

It got worse for the Germans in the
41st minute, when Erik Lamela
smashed a volley into the top left
corner, giving Neuer no chance after a
cross from, you guessed it, di Maria.
Gòmez missed another brilliant
chance, shooting wide past an empty
net after Romero could only parry a
powerful Reus effort straight back at
the attackers.
Roman Weidenfeller replaced Neuer in
goal to begin the second half, and
Podolski got the armband. Di Maria
got his assist hat trick when Federico
Fernández powered in a header at the
back post on a cross from a set piece.
Di Maria then hit a perfect chip shot
just 3 minutes later, and before 50
minutes had gone in the match, it was
4-0. Germany responded almost
instantly, as André Schürrle shot
straight at Romero after the corner
came in, and the rebound went right
back to the Chelsea man who put it
back in the net.
Mario Götze scored in the 78th minute
to make it 4-2, after striking the ball
into the middle of a crowd of
Argentina defenders, striking one and
going past Romero into the net. The
goal frenzy was over after that, with
both teams using all six subs
eventually in hopes of seeing what
some of their lesser-used players can
do.
Germany: Manuel Neuer (Roman
Weidenfeller 46'); Kevin Großkreutz,
Mattias Ginter, Benedikt Höwedes
(Anthony Rüdiger 77'), Erik Durm;
Christoph Kramer, Toni Kroos
(Sebastian Rudy 71'); André Schürrle
(Thomas Müller 57') , Marco Reus,
Julian Draxler (Lukas Podolski 34');
Mario Gòmez (Mario Götze 57').
Goals: Schürrle (52') Götze (78')
Argentina: Sergio Romero (Mariano
Andújar 80'); Pablo Zabaleta ( Hugo
Campagnaro 77'), Federico Fernández,
Martin Demichelis, Marcos Rojo; Enzo
Pérez (Augusto Fernández 46'), Javier
Mascherano , Lucas Biglia; Erik
Lamela ( Fernando Gago 68'), Sergio
Agüero (Nico Gaitán 84'), Ángel di
Maria (Ricardo Álvarez 86').
Goals: Agüero (20'), Lamela (40'),
Fernández (47'), di Maria (49')