A look back at Brazil’14
It all started at the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo more than a month ago.
GROUP MATCHES
Group A: It all started at the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo more than a month ago. The build-up to the World Cup had been markedly dampened by the unrest in Brazil, and for the first time, football was almost unwelcome in its own spiritual home.
Just 11 minutes in, it went from bad to worse as Marcelo toe-poked the ball into his own net. Brazil were trailing and a shock was on the cards. Neymar, however, came to the rescue for the hosts; a prevailing pattern throughout the tournament. Scoring twice before Oscar’s neat finish in stoppage time led to a comfortable 3-1 win.
Guillerme Ochoa’s heroics prevented Neymar and Selecao from scoring in the second match but the stalemate mattered little as a Neymar brace in the final group match against Cameroon meant the hosts finished top on goal difference, with Mexico’s second place finish earning them a clash against an ominous looking Dutch side.
Group B: Arguably the biggest shock of the group stages came when Spain were destroyed 5-by the Dutch, the defending champions completely unable to cope with the pace of Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben. Their loss to Chile in the second match made the European and defending champions the first team, along with Australia, to be knocked out of the tournament. Holland’s 2-0 win over Chile in the final match earned them the top spot, evading Brazil in the Round of 16 and scoring the most goals in the group stages, as Spain registered a consolation 3-0 win against the Socceroos.
Group C: In Group C, Colombia’s free-flowing 3-0 win over traditional misers Greece was a sign of things to come as James Rodriguez and Juan Cuadrado shone for the side that would eventually go onto win over many neutrals along their way to the quarters. They would emerge comfortable winners from the group with a 100% record, playing perhaps the most enterprising football of any team in the group stages. Greece was the other team to go through from Group C at the expense of Cote D’Ivoire due to a wrong decision by the referee, who pointed to the spot after Georgios Samaras tripped over his own feet in the 92nd minute. Samaras then stepped up to knock the Africans out with one of the last kicks of the game; a cruel blow considering Giovanni Sio was nowhere near Samaras when he tripped.
Group D: Costa Rica were one of the other surprise packages of the group stages, shocking Uruguay 3-1 on the opening day before securing their passage from the group of death with a 1-0 win against Italy. Luis Suarez’s double meant that England were out after only their second game of the World Cup, having also lost their first to Italy. Uruguay and Italy battled it out in the final game to decide who will progress to the knockout stages alongside Costa Rica. A Deigo Godin header in the 81st minute of the decider was enough to clinch second spot for Uruguay but the headlines were dominated by Suarez’s bite on Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini, which resulted in a four-month suspension and ended his World Cup.
Group E: France started the tournament with a 3-0 win against Honduras and continued to bang in the goals in their 5-2 win against the Swiss. Despite the heavy defeat, the Swiss joined the French in the knockouts thanks to wins against Ecuador and Honduras.
Group F: Just like his Barcelona teammate, Neymar, Lionel Messi almost single-handedly took his team through the group stages, earning the man-of-the-match award in all three games, which included spectacular strikes, ranging from a well-placed free-kick against Nigeria to a last-gasp curler of a winner against Iran. The Nigerians were the other team to join the Albiceleste, thanks to a narrow 1-0 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Group G: The results of the opening matches of Group G set the tone for the entire group, with Portugal and a half-fit Cristiano Ronaldo looking painfully under-par in a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of the Germans as the US, despite being dominated for large parts of the game, managed to win 2-1 against Ghana. A spirited Ghana fight back against the Germans saw them lead 2-1 but Miroslav Klose equalised late on, a feat that also saw him equal Luis Ronaldo’s 15-goal World Cup tally.
Portugal and Ronaldo also struggled against the US, with the Portuguese captain being perhaps the worst outfield player on the night before his inch-perfect cross was met by the head of Silvestre Varela to mean that no team was guaranteed elimination or qualification till the final round. However, it all seemed inevitable as the US, despite losing 1-0 to the Germans, went through on goal difference at the expense of Portugal, who defeated Ghana.
Group H: As expected, Belgium topped Group H but won themselves no fans due to their pragmatic approach. Billed by many as the tournament’s dark horses, football fans were excited to see the young side with a plethora of talented attackers. Their style, however, was a let-down as they sacrificed flair for defensive stability, failing to score a goal in the first 70 minutes of any of their matches.
Filled with stories of underdogs defeating giants and going through at their expense, and breaking the World Cup record for most goals scored in the group stages, the group stages were the most exciting of any in recent memory. However, with giants such as Spain, Italy, England and Portugal all knocked out, there was a feeling that the knockout stages may prove to be anticlimactic. That, though, was not the case.
ROUND OF 16
Brazil vs Chile
Having finished second in the group of death behind Holland, Chile were up against it when they faced hosts and favourites Brazil at the Belo Horizonte. Their task became doubly difficult when David Luiz prodded home from a Neymar set-piece that Thiago Silva had knocked on.
However, the Chileans had recently defeated the defending champions 2-0 and were not going to lie down so easily, with Alexis Sanchez slotting home a neat finish past Julio Cesar from a tight angle after some hesitant defending from the Brazilians.
Despite the best efforts of both sides, neither was able to break the deadlock in normal time as Hulk was denied a goal by referee Howard Webb, who awarded a handball against him, but the replays remain inconclusive, suggesting that the ball may have rolled down his chest rather than his arm.
The Brazilians tightened the screw in extra time as the Chileans tired. However, it was the La Roja that came the closest, with Mauricio Pinilla hitting the upright with a thunderbolt of a shot in the 120th minute; an inch too low and the unthinkable would have happened.
As it was, penalties were to decide the game and with Pinilla, Willian, Sanchez and Hulk all missing, it was up to Neymar to score Brazil’s final penalty with the score at 2-2. With a little shimmy in his run-up, the 22-year-old calmly slotted it past the keeper. The woodwork was to deny the Chileans once again as Gonzalo Jara’s effort agonisingly hit the inside of the post and out.
The Belo Horizonte erupted, Brazil were through to the next round.
Costa Rica vs Greece
If Costa Rica had surprised everyone by overachieving in the group stages, there were few raised eyebrows at Greece doing the same, having become almost synonymous with defying the odds and winning one way or the other.
The Round of 16 affair between the two was typical of their playing style, with Costa Rica looking to attack with flair players such as captain Bryan Ruiz and Arsenal youngster Joel Campbell while the Greeks defended in numbers, with skipper Giorgos Karagounis trying to pull the strings in midfield.
After an often boring first half where both teams cancelled each other out, Ruiz opened the scoring in the second half, placing the ball perfectly into the bottom corner even though it seemed that he had snatched at it.
It was far from plain sailing from there on for the Costa Ricans though, as Oscar Duarte was sent off in the 66th minute and there was a growing sense that the Greeks would pull off another famous comeback. Their never-say-die attitude paid off as, just like in the last match against the Ivorians, they scored late on, Socratis Papastathopoulos 91st minute equaliser taking the game to extra time, from where the Greeks were favourites to beat their 10-men opponents.
That was not the case though as both sides were unable to find a way through and the match went to penalties. Keilor Navas then proved to be the hero, saving from veteran Theofanis Gekas to take the Costa Ricans through to the quarters.
Colombia vs Uruguay
The all South American clash between Colombia and Uruguay was dominated by Suarez’s suspension and many talked of how both teams were playing without their star players, with Colombia’s Radamel Falcao missing the tournament through injury. However, while Uruguay seemed unable to cope with Suarez’s absence, 22-year-old James Rodriguez more than filled Falcao’s shoes, scoring perhaps the goal of the tournament in the 28th minute.
Receiving the ball from a Juan Cuadrado header, he chested the ball down before swivelling on the spot and volleying it on the turn from outside the box. The ball was past Fernando Muslera before he had time to react, going in after hitting the underside of the crossbar, and Colombia took the slender 1-0 lead into the break.
Colombia and Rodriguez were not done however, and in the 50th minute of the game, a superb team move culminated in the Monaco man tapping home.
Without Suarez, and with Diego Forlan looking all of his 35 years, Uruguay never really threatened to get back into the match and the Colombians emerged comfortable winners, setting up an enticing quarter-final clash against the Brazilians.
Argentina vs Switzerland
In what would ultimately prove to be the last match of his illustrious career, Swiss manager Ottmar Hitzfield set out his team to contain the Argentine attack, with his main focus on trying to stop captain Lionel Messi.
It worked for large parts of the game as Argentina’s ridiculously talented front four never truly threatened Diego Benaglio’s goal in normal time, despite registering 22 shots on target and having more than 60% of the possession in the match.
However, with penalties looming, Hitzfield’s fears came true. Messi received the ball near his half way line in the 118th minute, raced through a couple of challenges and found Angel di Maria with a perfectly weighted pass, who slotted past Benaglio on his first touch. The Argentine captain had covered less ground than any other outfield player in that match, reserving his energy for an incisive strike, and it earned Messi his fourth consecutive man-of-the-match award. The Swiss rallied upon falling a goal behind but were left with too little time as Argentina booked a place in the quarters, where they would meet Belgium.
France vs Nigeria
The French came into their Round of 16 match with Nigeria on the back of a fine run of scoring form and were heavy favourites to win. The Nigerians, on the other hand, had refused to train previously due to bonus payments. The mood in the two camps could not have been more different but it did not prove to be as easy as initially thought for the French, with Emmanuel Emenike even having the ball in the net, albeit from an offside position.
Despite dominating the early exchanges of the second half, the signs were ominous for the Super Eagles, as they allowed Paul Pogba too much space down the middle. The young Juventus midfielder stung Vincent Enyeama’s gloves with a volley before eventually managing to break the deadlock with a header in the 79th minute.
An own goal from Nigerian skipper Joseph Yobo made it 2-0 in stoppage time, but the scoreline flattered the French, who despite being one of the standout teams in the group stages were never able to stamp their authority here. However, they had done enough to earn themselves a quarter-final match against European rivals Germany.
Germany vs Algeria
Germany were widely regarded to have the easiest Round of 16 draw of any team. The Algerians had qualified for the knockout stages for the first time and the Germans were in ominous form after wins against the US and Portugal in the group stages.
The match, however, was not as comfortable for the Germans as they may have thought, with chances being hard to come by and the Algerians troubling the die Mannschaft’s slow backline with their pace that looked increasingly stretched without the calming presence of Mats Hummels in the middle.
Manuel Neuer often had to come out and sweep up, especially bailing out Per Mertesacker, and had a remarkable 21 touches on the ball outside his penalty area. Despite risking a red card by rushing out, Neuer managed to get it spot-on on every occasion, and with little penetration from the Germans, the match entered extra time.
The Germans, perhaps complacent during normal time, took just two minutes to score the opener with Andre Schurrle opening the scoring and breaking African hearts. Mesut Ozil, absent for most of the match, scored in the 120th minute to double the lead but Abdelmoumene Djabou scored a consolation a minute later to make it 2-1 at the final whistle. Algeria, despite winning so many neutral hearts, were going home.
Holland vs Mexico
Having scored the most goals in the group stages and boasting a perfect record so far, a confident Dutch side faced Mexico in what many thought would be a one-sided affair.
That was not the case as a drab first half ended 0-0 without either side truly being able to take control of the game.
Three minutes into the second, Giovani dos Santos opened the scoring to send the Mexican supporters into raptures; a shock was on the cards and they sensed it. Even going a goal down did not bring out the expected reaction from the Dutch, who continued to look bereft of ideas, with Louis van Gaal removing tiring captain Van Persie to bring on Klaas Jan Huntelaar.
It was Wesley Sneijder who came to Oranje’s rescue, scoring a beauty in the 88th minute to level the score, and just when the match looked destined to go into extra time, Rafael Marquez was adjudged to have brought down Robben inside the box. Substitute Huntelaar, who was credited with the assist for the first goal, stepped up to score a cool penalty in the 94th minute of the match. The Mexicans would feel hard done by since there was minimal contact, if any, when Robben tumbled to the ground, but it was Holland who were through to the quarters.
US vs Belgium
With both the US and Belgium impressing in the group stages, this match was perhaps the only match in the Round of 16 that featured two teams on even footings.
The match was dominated by the Belgians who were on the front foot from the start. However, they were unable to find a way past Tim Howard, who made a record 16 saves, including a spectacular double save, to somehow keep the Belgians at bay.
Despite being on the defensive throughout the match, the Americans had perhaps the best chance to win the match as Chris Wondolowski somehow managed to miss from almost three yards out in injury time.
Substitute Romelu Lukaku, out of the first team after ineffective showings in the previous matches, proved to be the difference, using his physical presence to set up the first goal for Kevin De Bruyne just three minutes into extra time. He then scored the second in the 105th minute to make it seem that the Belgians were home and dry.
However, the US hit back with a goal in the 107th minute to make for a nervous final minutes, but the Belgians held on to make it through to the next round.
QUARTERS
Belgium vs Argentina
The game against the Albiceleste was the Red Devil’s first real challenge at the World Cup, coming against a strong Argentina side with Lionel Messi finally living up to his potential on the international stage.
Coach Marc Wilmots would have been quietly confidently going into that game, considering that Messi had failed to get the better of Belgium keeper Thibaut Courtois in six meetings during the season.
However, Wilmots was not going to take any chances with a player of Messi’s calibre and it was clear from the get-go that both Marouane Fellaini and Alex Witsel were tasked with keeping a close eye on the Argentine man.
With the skipper being crowded out in the early exchanges whenever he got the ball, it was clear that one of Argentina’s other misfiring attackers would have to step up. Higuain was the man to do so. As expected, it all started with Messi, whose quick feet allowed him to ride a few challenges before laying the ball onto Di Maria, who passed it to Higuain. With his back to goal and seemingly nowhere to go, Higuain turned brilliantly and shot on the volley and before Courtois could react, the ball was in the back of the net.
From then on, it was easy sailing for Argentina as the Belgians, for all their attacking talent, looked toothless and never truly threatened the South Americans, with the best chance of the second half falling to Messi but Courtois continued his domination over the little genius with a superb one-on-one save. Messi would have cared little though, as Argentina produced their most complete team performance of the tournament so far.
Holland vs Costa Rica
Holland’s game against the Costa Ricans will forever be remembered for Van Gaal’s incredible decision at the end to replace Cillessen with Tim Krul for the penalties.
The match itself was one to forget in a World Cup that equalled the record for most goals scored.
The Dutch, playing with a defensive setup, were unable to break the Costa Ricans, who were more than willing to soak up the pressure. It wasn’t until the last five minutes of the match that it burst into life, with chances at both ends. However, with penalties inevitable, Van Gaal made the change that would prove to be a masterstroke.
Krul went on to save two Costa Rican penalties, who had demonstrated their penalty-taking prowess with five perfect penalties against the Greeks, to send the Dutch team into the semis, where they would face Argentina.
Brazil vs Colombia
The all South American encounter between Brazil and Colombia game was perhaps the most entertaining match of the tournament, with both teams playing at breakneck speed, paying so much attention to attack that vast spaces appeared in both defences.
After having played some drab football so far, the Brazilians had finally arrived, taking the lead thanks to captain Thiago Silva in the seventh minute. They continued to carve open the Colombian defence at will as 38-year-old Mario Yepes looked like the only secure man in defence. The Colombians, however, were not lying down either; fighting fire with fire and attacking with just as much pace and gusto as the Brazilians.
It was a surprise then that the end-to-end match did not lead to more goals in the first half, which finished 1-0.
In the second, it was more of the same but sheer Brazilian skill shone through, albeit from a comparatively unlikely source. A free-kick from 30 yards out was awarded to Brazil and David Luiz stood over it.
The distance made it seem fairly harmless but Luiz somehow managed to hit the ball in such a way that it seemed to almost defy physics, with the ball flying into the top corner. Replays showed Luiz to be completely airborne when he made contact with the ball, both feet off the ground, so it was a miracle that he managed to get so much power behind it.
At 2-0, it seemed that the Brazilians would coast through. The Colombians had not read the script though and James Rodriguez’s exquisite through ball tore through the Brazilian backline, and Carlos Bacca was brought down by Julio Cesar, who was given a yellow card when he should have been given a red.
Rodriguez stepped up to score his sixth goal of the tournament but despite huffing and puffing, the Colombians were unable to find a way through the Brazilian defence again. The dancing Colombians were out, and it was the Brazil supporters who danced in jubilation; their team was through to the semis, where they would face Germany.
The win, however, had come at a cost as Neymar’s tournament came to a premature end due to an overzealous tackle and Silva’s needless yellow card meant he too would miss the semi-final clash.
France vs Germany
The European tie between France and Germany was between the two teams that perhaps represented Europe’s greatest hopes of being able to finally conquer South America.
Both had impressed in the group stages, playing enterprising football while also looking solid at the back.
For once though, a 2014 World Cup match proved to be a let-down as Mats Hummels’ 13th-minute header was the only goal in the game. Raphaël Varane, who had been so solid at the back, was at fault for the goal as Hummels managed to get in behind to head home with consummate ease.
The French were never really able to trouble the Germans, as Karim Benzema went missing for vast chunks of the match but still managed to draw a sharp save out of Neuer when he fired at his near post from a tight angle.
The final whistle soon blew and the Germans went through without ever being threatened.
SEMIFINAL
Brazil vs Germany
The Brazilians were in cheerful mood when the match kicked off at the Belo Horizonte on July 8. They were one match away from the Maracana, and two matches away from vanquishing the ghost of the Maracanazo. They were without their captain and their pin-up star but they were still slight favourites. After all, they had not lost at home since 1975. Nobody could have predicted what followed.
Thomas Muller scored in the 11th minute from a corner, somehow being allowed to tap in on the volley after being left unmarked near the six-yard box. There was a feeling that had Silva been there, he would not have allowed this to happen. The noise in the Belo Horizonte became a little quieter but it was still loud; the Brazilians still believed. This was their home, their team, their game; they had to win.
But 12 minutes later, it was Miroslav Klose who scored, following up on the rebound after Cesar had saved his first shot. Now, the Belo Horizonte was silenced, Ronaldo’s World Cup record was broken and, along with it, went the hopes of winning the sixth championship at home soil in 2014.
That goal did something even worse though; it opened the floodgates. Toni Kroos scored a minute later, then doubled his tally to make it 4-0 for the Germans just two minutes after that and three minutes further forward, Sami Khedira slotted home Ozil’s cutback to make it 5-0. Four goals in six minutes, Brazil was stunned and it was 5-0 inside the first half hour.
The Germans eased up after that, knowing that they had won.
The Brazilians never really looked like mounting a comeback, playing as if in a haze, even though they forced Neuer into a couple of smart saves into the second half. Schurrle scored a brace in the second half to take the score to 7-0 and a 90th-minute Oscar consolation made it 7-1.
The result sent tremors through the footballing world and Brazil came to a standstill, shocked at what they had witnessed. The Maracanazo was almost forgotten, this was worse, this was what humiliation truly felt like. Moacir Barbosa was released of his demons posthumously, not through a sixth World Cup, but through a defeat to overshadow that of the 1950 final.
The match broke many records, from Brazil’s worst defeat to the worst defeat in a World Cup semi-final but its biggest impact was that the hosts were out.
Argentina vs Netherlands
In hindsight, the second semi-final, coming on the eve after Brazil’s 7-1 drubbing, would always have been a let-down compared to the first one, but all the pre-match hype centred around Lionel Messi and Arjen Robben, both of whom had been in outstanding form in the tournament.
Louis van Gaal, like all coaches before him, had prepared specifically for Lionel Messi, with Bruno Martins Indi sticking to the Barcelona man throughout the first half. However, a yellow card prompted Van Gaal to take off the centre-back at the break, and it was Ron Vlaar who was charged with the unenviable task of marking Messi. Vlaar excelled in the responsibility, denying the Argentinean skipper any space and even stopping him when he was isolated one-on-one with the Number 10.
On the other end of the pitch, Robben was not faring any better, with first Pablo Zabaleta and then Javier Mascherano both coming up with some excellent last-ditch tackles to dispossess the Dutch winger on a couple of occasions, with Mascherano’s tackle in the dying minutes of the match standing out.
The Dutch seemed content with taking it to penalties, as Robben’s speculative shot from more than 30 yards out in the 97th minute their first and only shot in the entire match. The Argentineans, despite showing endeavour, were unable to carve open the Dutch defence before a deft lofted pass played Rodrigo Palaccio in behind. However, the ball just would not come down for the striker and his header was a tame one, hit straight at Jasper Cillessen. Maxi Rodriguez also had a chance late on to make himself a hero but his shot on the volley went wide of the mark.
With Messi and Robben crowded out and the other attackers wasteful and inefficient, penalties were inevitable. There would, however, be no repeat of Tim Krul’s heroics as Van Gaal had used up all of his substitutes.
Having been hailed for that masterstroke in the last match, Van Gaal’s decision to award the first penalty to Vlaar will forever be questioned, with reports circling that a few of the players had refused to take penalties, forcing the manager’s hand. Vlaar’s penalty was weak and straight at Sergio Romero. Argentina were more ruthless, with regular penalty taker Messi taking the first one; calmly slotting it to Cillessen’s right to give his team the lead.
Up stepped Robben and placed his penalty past Romero and Ezequiel Garay then smashed his straight down the middle, giving Cillessen no chance. Romero, though, proved to be the hero as he saved Wesley Sneijder’s well-placed effort. With Sergio Aguero and Dirk Kuyt both scoring, it was up to Maxi Rodriguez to send Argentina into the final. His penalty, to Cillessen’s right, was not the best. However, the keeper, either devoid of confident after being replaced for penalties in the previous match without being told beforehand that he would be substituted or merely overcome with nerves, could only palm it into the back of the net when he really should have saved it.
Argentina were in the final and Lionel Messi was just one match away from securing his place as one of the greatest players to ever play the game alongside Diego Maradona and Pele.
FIFA World Cup to make its first transatlantic trip to Europe
When the whistle blew at the Maracana to signal the start of the World Cup final, almost 64 years after the fateful night of the Maracanazo, the unthinkable had already happened for the Brazilians: their team was not here.
However, a second Maracanazo was possible: Argentina; bitter rivals Argentina, and their giant of a captain Lionel Messi could lift the trophy there -- inside the biggest stadium in the world, inside their own home.
In a cruel twist, the Brazilians inside and outside the Maracana were supporting the Germans, their conquerors, hoping that they would not have to face the shame of seeing Argentina conquer Brazil.
The Germans were there after 24 years -- and long years they had been. It was at the turn of the century that they underwent a major upheaval in their football system, focusing heavily on their youth. The upheaval showed signs of promise, with impressive German performances in the last few major tournaments.
But tonight, they needed to change that promise to something more palpable; tonight the young Germans needed to come of age; tonight they had to vindicate 14 years of hard work.
On the other side of the pitch stood Messi and his men, clad in their away blue kit -- but they were the ones at home. South America had always belonged to South America, and no team from another continent had ever claimed the World Cup here.
Outside the stadium in the heart of Rio de Janeiro, the statue of Christ the Redeemer stood tall over the city. Inside it, the shadow of Maradona loomed larger over his heir.
Can Messi deliver the World Cup to Argentina with a sub-standard team like Maradona had done in 1986, or would the final be one step too many for the tired shoulders of Messi to carry the weight of an entire nation’s hope? The question was on everybody’s mind, and with his legacy secure, Messi was out to build on his legend.
The early exchanges of the match were tentative, as could be expected, with both teams feeling their way into the biggest match of their lives. A quick Argentine counter from a German freekick in the fifth minute of the game was the only time that the match came alive during the first 20 minutes.
In the 21st minute, Toni Kroos, who had been the tournament’s outstanding German player in midfield, headed a complacent ball back towards Manuel Neuer but it fell straight into the path of Higuain, who was suddenly one-on-one with the goalkeeper and odds on to score. However, he scuffed his chance, volleying it wide of the mark.
Less than 10 minutes later, he had the ball in the back of the net from a Lavezzi cross and he reeled away in sheer joy with his eyes wide open, screaming in delight, fists clenched, running but not caring where to.
It took nearly 10 seconds for reality to kick in, the linesman had his flag up: offside. The goal would not count.
The match once again lulled, and it was in the 40th minute that it suddenly burst to life -- along with Messi. The captain drove right into the heart of the German defence, causing panic and disarray where there usually is calm and confidence. It took a hurried clearance from Jerome Boateng to ensure that no Argentine player took advantage of the havoc that Messi had caused.
Just before half time, the German machine suddenly, ominously, clicked into gear and Ozil found an unmarked Schurrle on the edge of the box in the 43rd minute, scorer of a brace in the semi and a ruthless finisher, but he shot straight at Romero.
A minute later, Muller delivered a splendid left-footed cross that took even Miroslav Klose by surprise.
The usually sharp poacher could just see the ball float just out of his reach as he was caught wrong-footed. Two minutes later, into the first minute of stoppage time, the Germans came even more agonisingly close as Kroos’ superb corner was headed onto the post by Benedikt Howedes from six yards out.
The whistle soon blew after that, signalling the end of a half that was often dull but would suddenly burst into life. At the break it remained 0-0.
The second half started unlike the first one, with the first big chance coming just two minutes in. No one in Argentina would have wanted it to fall to any man but the one it fell to: Messi. He had a clear sight on goal and from the right side, took a shot.
For a second, the Maracana stood still, preparing to erupt. The ball though, went just wide, when many a time it would have gone in. It was then that the Argentines started to worry that it may not be Messi’s day.
The games tempo was visibly higher than that of the first half and when Neuer took out Higuain, tempers started to flare as yellow cards piled up.
Kroos came close in the 81st minute from an Ozil pullback, and should really have at least troubled Romero as he had a lot of time to place his shot. That was the last big chance of the match in normal time, and at the end of the 90th minute it stayed 0-0.
The Germans were quick off the mark in added time, with Schurrle testing Romero but hitting straight at him in the 91st minute.
A superb ball from Rojo in the 97th minute found Palacio after Hummels seemed to have misjudged his header. The striker tried to dink the ball over Neuer, but ended up hitting it with his shin and it sailed harmless wide.
With legs tiring, the match slowed down and five minutes into the second half of extra time, penalties seemed almost inevitable.
However, it was not to be.
In the 113th minute of the match, Schurrle embarked on a superb run down Argentina’s right hand side before lifting the ball towards Gotze, who chested the ball down and volleyed it on the full.
The ball hit the back of the net and the Maracana exploded, as Germans and Brazilians alike celebrated; the Germans in triumph, the Brazilians in relief.
Messi had a free-kick from around 30 yards out in the last minute of the game. As he stood over the ball, the world stood still.
It was time for Messi to deliver -- to score from a spot not that different from the one for his free-kick against Nigeria. The Argentinians prayed fervently, while the Maracana stood silent and the seconds ticked by slowly.
He ran up to take it, going for power instead of his trusted placement, as if too desperate to score. It sailed over, causing strong reactions from supporters -- the Germans roared while the Argentinians’ tears flowed; both knew it was over then.
The whistle came moments later, and united Germany were crowned champions for the first time -- a fourth star added to the three earned by West Germany. This team was hailed by many to be the best ever, and they proved that that may not have been hyperbole.
As the Germans celebrated, Messi stood staring almost questioningly at the night sky, tears rolling down his otherwise emotionless face. He would undoubtedly be replaying the chances that they had missed in the match.
First Higuain, then him and then Palacio; all scuffing their mark when it mattered the most. And while the footballing world may forget Higuain and Palacio, his legend will endure, forever tainted.
It was in 1990 that Franz Beckenbauer had gushed over the unification of Germany, saying that a united German football side would bring about a new era of dominance in international football.
It took them 24 years to realise that potential, but they did not care. They were champions of the Marcana, of Rio, of Brazil, of South America, and most importantly of the World.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 15th, 2014.
Group A: It all started at the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo more than a month ago. The build-up to the World Cup had been markedly dampened by the unrest in Brazil, and for the first time, football was almost unwelcome in its own spiritual home.
Just 11 minutes in, it went from bad to worse as Marcelo toe-poked the ball into his own net. Brazil were trailing and a shock was on the cards. Neymar, however, came to the rescue for the hosts; a prevailing pattern throughout the tournament. Scoring twice before Oscar’s neat finish in stoppage time led to a comfortable 3-1 win.
Guillerme Ochoa’s heroics prevented Neymar and Selecao from scoring in the second match but the stalemate mattered little as a Neymar brace in the final group match against Cameroon meant the hosts finished top on goal difference, with Mexico’s second place finish earning them a clash against an ominous looking Dutch side.
Group B: Arguably the biggest shock of the group stages came when Spain were destroyed 5-by the Dutch, the defending champions completely unable to cope with the pace of Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben. Their loss to Chile in the second match made the European and defending champions the first team, along with Australia, to be knocked out of the tournament. Holland’s 2-0 win over Chile in the final match earned them the top spot, evading Brazil in the Round of 16 and scoring the most goals in the group stages, as Spain registered a consolation 3-0 win against the Socceroos.
Group C: In Group C, Colombia’s free-flowing 3-0 win over traditional misers Greece was a sign of things to come as James Rodriguez and Juan Cuadrado shone for the side that would eventually go onto win over many neutrals along their way to the quarters. They would emerge comfortable winners from the group with a 100% record, playing perhaps the most enterprising football of any team in the group stages. Greece was the other team to go through from Group C at the expense of Cote D’Ivoire due to a wrong decision by the referee, who pointed to the spot after Georgios Samaras tripped over his own feet in the 92nd minute. Samaras then stepped up to knock the Africans out with one of the last kicks of the game; a cruel blow considering Giovanni Sio was nowhere near Samaras when he tripped.
Group D: Costa Rica were one of the other surprise packages of the group stages, shocking Uruguay 3-1 on the opening day before securing their passage from the group of death with a 1-0 win against Italy. Luis Suarez’s double meant that England were out after only their second game of the World Cup, having also lost their first to Italy. Uruguay and Italy battled it out in the final game to decide who will progress to the knockout stages alongside Costa Rica. A Deigo Godin header in the 81st minute of the decider was enough to clinch second spot for Uruguay but the headlines were dominated by Suarez’s bite on Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini, which resulted in a four-month suspension and ended his World Cup.
Group E: France started the tournament with a 3-0 win against Honduras and continued to bang in the goals in their 5-2 win against the Swiss. Despite the heavy defeat, the Swiss joined the French in the knockouts thanks to wins against Ecuador and Honduras.
Group F: Just like his Barcelona teammate, Neymar, Lionel Messi almost single-handedly took his team through the group stages, earning the man-of-the-match award in all three games, which included spectacular strikes, ranging from a well-placed free-kick against Nigeria to a last-gasp curler of a winner against Iran. The Nigerians were the other team to join the Albiceleste, thanks to a narrow 1-0 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Group G: The results of the opening matches of Group G set the tone for the entire group, with Portugal and a half-fit Cristiano Ronaldo looking painfully under-par in a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of the Germans as the US, despite being dominated for large parts of the game, managed to win 2-1 against Ghana. A spirited Ghana fight back against the Germans saw them lead 2-1 but Miroslav Klose equalised late on, a feat that also saw him equal Luis Ronaldo’s 15-goal World Cup tally.
Portugal and Ronaldo also struggled against the US, with the Portuguese captain being perhaps the worst outfield player on the night before his inch-perfect cross was met by the head of Silvestre Varela to mean that no team was guaranteed elimination or qualification till the final round. However, it all seemed inevitable as the US, despite losing 1-0 to the Germans, went through on goal difference at the expense of Portugal, who defeated Ghana.
Group H: As expected, Belgium topped Group H but won themselves no fans due to their pragmatic approach. Billed by many as the tournament’s dark horses, football fans were excited to see the young side with a plethora of talented attackers. Their style, however, was a let-down as they sacrificed flair for defensive stability, failing to score a goal in the first 70 minutes of any of their matches.
Filled with stories of underdogs defeating giants and going through at their expense, and breaking the World Cup record for most goals scored in the group stages, the group stages were the most exciting of any in recent memory. However, with giants such as Spain, Italy, England and Portugal all knocked out, there was a feeling that the knockout stages may prove to be anticlimactic. That, though, was not the case.
ROUND OF 16
Brazil vs Chile
Having finished second in the group of death behind Holland, Chile were up against it when they faced hosts and favourites Brazil at the Belo Horizonte. Their task became doubly difficult when David Luiz prodded home from a Neymar set-piece that Thiago Silva had knocked on.
However, the Chileans had recently defeated the defending champions 2-0 and were not going to lie down so easily, with Alexis Sanchez slotting home a neat finish past Julio Cesar from a tight angle after some hesitant defending from the Brazilians.
Despite the best efforts of both sides, neither was able to break the deadlock in normal time as Hulk was denied a goal by referee Howard Webb, who awarded a handball against him, but the replays remain inconclusive, suggesting that the ball may have rolled down his chest rather than his arm.
The Brazilians tightened the screw in extra time as the Chileans tired. However, it was the La Roja that came the closest, with Mauricio Pinilla hitting the upright with a thunderbolt of a shot in the 120th minute; an inch too low and the unthinkable would have happened.
As it was, penalties were to decide the game and with Pinilla, Willian, Sanchez and Hulk all missing, it was up to Neymar to score Brazil’s final penalty with the score at 2-2. With a little shimmy in his run-up, the 22-year-old calmly slotted it past the keeper. The woodwork was to deny the Chileans once again as Gonzalo Jara’s effort agonisingly hit the inside of the post and out.
The Belo Horizonte erupted, Brazil were through to the next round.
Costa Rica vs Greece
If Costa Rica had surprised everyone by overachieving in the group stages, there were few raised eyebrows at Greece doing the same, having become almost synonymous with defying the odds and winning one way or the other.
The Round of 16 affair between the two was typical of their playing style, with Costa Rica looking to attack with flair players such as captain Bryan Ruiz and Arsenal youngster Joel Campbell while the Greeks defended in numbers, with skipper Giorgos Karagounis trying to pull the strings in midfield.
After an often boring first half where both teams cancelled each other out, Ruiz opened the scoring in the second half, placing the ball perfectly into the bottom corner even though it seemed that he had snatched at it.
It was far from plain sailing from there on for the Costa Ricans though, as Oscar Duarte was sent off in the 66th minute and there was a growing sense that the Greeks would pull off another famous comeback. Their never-say-die attitude paid off as, just like in the last match against the Ivorians, they scored late on, Socratis Papastathopoulos 91st minute equaliser taking the game to extra time, from where the Greeks were favourites to beat their 10-men opponents.
That was not the case though as both sides were unable to find a way through and the match went to penalties. Keilor Navas then proved to be the hero, saving from veteran Theofanis Gekas to take the Costa Ricans through to the quarters.
Colombia vs Uruguay
The all South American clash between Colombia and Uruguay was dominated by Suarez’s suspension and many talked of how both teams were playing without their star players, with Colombia’s Radamel Falcao missing the tournament through injury. However, while Uruguay seemed unable to cope with Suarez’s absence, 22-year-old James Rodriguez more than filled Falcao’s shoes, scoring perhaps the goal of the tournament in the 28th minute.
Receiving the ball from a Juan Cuadrado header, he chested the ball down before swivelling on the spot and volleying it on the turn from outside the box. The ball was past Fernando Muslera before he had time to react, going in after hitting the underside of the crossbar, and Colombia took the slender 1-0 lead into the break.
Colombia and Rodriguez were not done however, and in the 50th minute of the game, a superb team move culminated in the Monaco man tapping home.
Without Suarez, and with Diego Forlan looking all of his 35 years, Uruguay never really threatened to get back into the match and the Colombians emerged comfortable winners, setting up an enticing quarter-final clash against the Brazilians.
Argentina vs Switzerland
In what would ultimately prove to be the last match of his illustrious career, Swiss manager Ottmar Hitzfield set out his team to contain the Argentine attack, with his main focus on trying to stop captain Lionel Messi.
It worked for large parts of the game as Argentina’s ridiculously talented front four never truly threatened Diego Benaglio’s goal in normal time, despite registering 22 shots on target and having more than 60% of the possession in the match.
However, with penalties looming, Hitzfield’s fears came true. Messi received the ball near his half way line in the 118th minute, raced through a couple of challenges and found Angel di Maria with a perfectly weighted pass, who slotted past Benaglio on his first touch. The Argentine captain had covered less ground than any other outfield player in that match, reserving his energy for an incisive strike, and it earned Messi his fourth consecutive man-of-the-match award. The Swiss rallied upon falling a goal behind but were left with too little time as Argentina booked a place in the quarters, where they would meet Belgium.
France vs Nigeria
The French came into their Round of 16 match with Nigeria on the back of a fine run of scoring form and were heavy favourites to win. The Nigerians, on the other hand, had refused to train previously due to bonus payments. The mood in the two camps could not have been more different but it did not prove to be as easy as initially thought for the French, with Emmanuel Emenike even having the ball in the net, albeit from an offside position.
Despite dominating the early exchanges of the second half, the signs were ominous for the Super Eagles, as they allowed Paul Pogba too much space down the middle. The young Juventus midfielder stung Vincent Enyeama’s gloves with a volley before eventually managing to break the deadlock with a header in the 79th minute.
An own goal from Nigerian skipper Joseph Yobo made it 2-0 in stoppage time, but the scoreline flattered the French, who despite being one of the standout teams in the group stages were never able to stamp their authority here. However, they had done enough to earn themselves a quarter-final match against European rivals Germany.
Germany vs Algeria
Germany were widely regarded to have the easiest Round of 16 draw of any team. The Algerians had qualified for the knockout stages for the first time and the Germans were in ominous form after wins against the US and Portugal in the group stages.
The match, however, was not as comfortable for the Germans as they may have thought, with chances being hard to come by and the Algerians troubling the die Mannschaft’s slow backline with their pace that looked increasingly stretched without the calming presence of Mats Hummels in the middle.
Manuel Neuer often had to come out and sweep up, especially bailing out Per Mertesacker, and had a remarkable 21 touches on the ball outside his penalty area. Despite risking a red card by rushing out, Neuer managed to get it spot-on on every occasion, and with little penetration from the Germans, the match entered extra time.
The Germans, perhaps complacent during normal time, took just two minutes to score the opener with Andre Schurrle opening the scoring and breaking African hearts. Mesut Ozil, absent for most of the match, scored in the 120th minute to double the lead but Abdelmoumene Djabou scored a consolation a minute later to make it 2-1 at the final whistle. Algeria, despite winning so many neutral hearts, were going home.
Holland vs Mexico
Having scored the most goals in the group stages and boasting a perfect record so far, a confident Dutch side faced Mexico in what many thought would be a one-sided affair.
That was not the case as a drab first half ended 0-0 without either side truly being able to take control of the game.
Three minutes into the second, Giovani dos Santos opened the scoring to send the Mexican supporters into raptures; a shock was on the cards and they sensed it. Even going a goal down did not bring out the expected reaction from the Dutch, who continued to look bereft of ideas, with Louis van Gaal removing tiring captain Van Persie to bring on Klaas Jan Huntelaar.
It was Wesley Sneijder who came to Oranje’s rescue, scoring a beauty in the 88th minute to level the score, and just when the match looked destined to go into extra time, Rafael Marquez was adjudged to have brought down Robben inside the box. Substitute Huntelaar, who was credited with the assist for the first goal, stepped up to score a cool penalty in the 94th minute of the match. The Mexicans would feel hard done by since there was minimal contact, if any, when Robben tumbled to the ground, but it was Holland who were through to the quarters.
US vs Belgium
With both the US and Belgium impressing in the group stages, this match was perhaps the only match in the Round of 16 that featured two teams on even footings.
The match was dominated by the Belgians who were on the front foot from the start. However, they were unable to find a way past Tim Howard, who made a record 16 saves, including a spectacular double save, to somehow keep the Belgians at bay.
Despite being on the defensive throughout the match, the Americans had perhaps the best chance to win the match as Chris Wondolowski somehow managed to miss from almost three yards out in injury time.
Substitute Romelu Lukaku, out of the first team after ineffective showings in the previous matches, proved to be the difference, using his physical presence to set up the first goal for Kevin De Bruyne just three minutes into extra time. He then scored the second in the 105th minute to make it seem that the Belgians were home and dry.
However, the US hit back with a goal in the 107th minute to make for a nervous final minutes, but the Belgians held on to make it through to the next round.
QUARTERS
Belgium vs Argentina
The game against the Albiceleste was the Red Devil’s first real challenge at the World Cup, coming against a strong Argentina side with Lionel Messi finally living up to his potential on the international stage.
Coach Marc Wilmots would have been quietly confidently going into that game, considering that Messi had failed to get the better of Belgium keeper Thibaut Courtois in six meetings during the season.
However, Wilmots was not going to take any chances with a player of Messi’s calibre and it was clear from the get-go that both Marouane Fellaini and Alex Witsel were tasked with keeping a close eye on the Argentine man.
With the skipper being crowded out in the early exchanges whenever he got the ball, it was clear that one of Argentina’s other misfiring attackers would have to step up. Higuain was the man to do so. As expected, it all started with Messi, whose quick feet allowed him to ride a few challenges before laying the ball onto Di Maria, who passed it to Higuain. With his back to goal and seemingly nowhere to go, Higuain turned brilliantly and shot on the volley and before Courtois could react, the ball was in the back of the net.
From then on, it was easy sailing for Argentina as the Belgians, for all their attacking talent, looked toothless and never truly threatened the South Americans, with the best chance of the second half falling to Messi but Courtois continued his domination over the little genius with a superb one-on-one save. Messi would have cared little though, as Argentina produced their most complete team performance of the tournament so far.
Holland vs Costa Rica
Holland’s game against the Costa Ricans will forever be remembered for Van Gaal’s incredible decision at the end to replace Cillessen with Tim Krul for the penalties.
The match itself was one to forget in a World Cup that equalled the record for most goals scored.
The Dutch, playing with a defensive setup, were unable to break the Costa Ricans, who were more than willing to soak up the pressure. It wasn’t until the last five minutes of the match that it burst into life, with chances at both ends. However, with penalties inevitable, Van Gaal made the change that would prove to be a masterstroke.
Krul went on to save two Costa Rican penalties, who had demonstrated their penalty-taking prowess with five perfect penalties against the Greeks, to send the Dutch team into the semis, where they would face Argentina.
Brazil vs Colombia
The all South American encounter between Brazil and Colombia game was perhaps the most entertaining match of the tournament, with both teams playing at breakneck speed, paying so much attention to attack that vast spaces appeared in both defences.
After having played some drab football so far, the Brazilians had finally arrived, taking the lead thanks to captain Thiago Silva in the seventh minute. They continued to carve open the Colombian defence at will as 38-year-old Mario Yepes looked like the only secure man in defence. The Colombians, however, were not lying down either; fighting fire with fire and attacking with just as much pace and gusto as the Brazilians.
It was a surprise then that the end-to-end match did not lead to more goals in the first half, which finished 1-0.
In the second, it was more of the same but sheer Brazilian skill shone through, albeit from a comparatively unlikely source. A free-kick from 30 yards out was awarded to Brazil and David Luiz stood over it.
The distance made it seem fairly harmless but Luiz somehow managed to hit the ball in such a way that it seemed to almost defy physics, with the ball flying into the top corner. Replays showed Luiz to be completely airborne when he made contact with the ball, both feet off the ground, so it was a miracle that he managed to get so much power behind it.
At 2-0, it seemed that the Brazilians would coast through. The Colombians had not read the script though and James Rodriguez’s exquisite through ball tore through the Brazilian backline, and Carlos Bacca was brought down by Julio Cesar, who was given a yellow card when he should have been given a red.
Rodriguez stepped up to score his sixth goal of the tournament but despite huffing and puffing, the Colombians were unable to find a way through the Brazilian defence again. The dancing Colombians were out, and it was the Brazil supporters who danced in jubilation; their team was through to the semis, where they would face Germany.
The win, however, had come at a cost as Neymar’s tournament came to a premature end due to an overzealous tackle and Silva’s needless yellow card meant he too would miss the semi-final clash.
France vs Germany
The European tie between France and Germany was between the two teams that perhaps represented Europe’s greatest hopes of being able to finally conquer South America.
Both had impressed in the group stages, playing enterprising football while also looking solid at the back.
For once though, a 2014 World Cup match proved to be a let-down as Mats Hummels’ 13th-minute header was the only goal in the game. Raphaël Varane, who had been so solid at the back, was at fault for the goal as Hummels managed to get in behind to head home with consummate ease.
The French were never really able to trouble the Germans, as Karim Benzema went missing for vast chunks of the match but still managed to draw a sharp save out of Neuer when he fired at his near post from a tight angle.
The final whistle soon blew and the Germans went through without ever being threatened.
SEMIFINAL
Brazil vs Germany
The Brazilians were in cheerful mood when the match kicked off at the Belo Horizonte on July 8. They were one match away from the Maracana, and two matches away from vanquishing the ghost of the Maracanazo. They were without their captain and their pin-up star but they were still slight favourites. After all, they had not lost at home since 1975. Nobody could have predicted what followed.
Thomas Muller scored in the 11th minute from a corner, somehow being allowed to tap in on the volley after being left unmarked near the six-yard box. There was a feeling that had Silva been there, he would not have allowed this to happen. The noise in the Belo Horizonte became a little quieter but it was still loud; the Brazilians still believed. This was their home, their team, their game; they had to win.
But 12 minutes later, it was Miroslav Klose who scored, following up on the rebound after Cesar had saved his first shot. Now, the Belo Horizonte was silenced, Ronaldo’s World Cup record was broken and, along with it, went the hopes of winning the sixth championship at home soil in 2014.
That goal did something even worse though; it opened the floodgates. Toni Kroos scored a minute later, then doubled his tally to make it 4-0 for the Germans just two minutes after that and three minutes further forward, Sami Khedira slotted home Ozil’s cutback to make it 5-0. Four goals in six minutes, Brazil was stunned and it was 5-0 inside the first half hour.
The Germans eased up after that, knowing that they had won.
The Brazilians never really looked like mounting a comeback, playing as if in a haze, even though they forced Neuer into a couple of smart saves into the second half. Schurrle scored a brace in the second half to take the score to 7-0 and a 90th-minute Oscar consolation made it 7-1.
The result sent tremors through the footballing world and Brazil came to a standstill, shocked at what they had witnessed. The Maracanazo was almost forgotten, this was worse, this was what humiliation truly felt like. Moacir Barbosa was released of his demons posthumously, not through a sixth World Cup, but through a defeat to overshadow that of the 1950 final.
The match broke many records, from Brazil’s worst defeat to the worst defeat in a World Cup semi-final but its biggest impact was that the hosts were out.
Argentina vs Netherlands
In hindsight, the second semi-final, coming on the eve after Brazil’s 7-1 drubbing, would always have been a let-down compared to the first one, but all the pre-match hype centred around Lionel Messi and Arjen Robben, both of whom had been in outstanding form in the tournament.
Louis van Gaal, like all coaches before him, had prepared specifically for Lionel Messi, with Bruno Martins Indi sticking to the Barcelona man throughout the first half. However, a yellow card prompted Van Gaal to take off the centre-back at the break, and it was Ron Vlaar who was charged with the unenviable task of marking Messi. Vlaar excelled in the responsibility, denying the Argentinean skipper any space and even stopping him when he was isolated one-on-one with the Number 10.
On the other end of the pitch, Robben was not faring any better, with first Pablo Zabaleta and then Javier Mascherano both coming up with some excellent last-ditch tackles to dispossess the Dutch winger on a couple of occasions, with Mascherano’s tackle in the dying minutes of the match standing out.
The Dutch seemed content with taking it to penalties, as Robben’s speculative shot from more than 30 yards out in the 97th minute their first and only shot in the entire match. The Argentineans, despite showing endeavour, were unable to carve open the Dutch defence before a deft lofted pass played Rodrigo Palaccio in behind. However, the ball just would not come down for the striker and his header was a tame one, hit straight at Jasper Cillessen. Maxi Rodriguez also had a chance late on to make himself a hero but his shot on the volley went wide of the mark.
With Messi and Robben crowded out and the other attackers wasteful and inefficient, penalties were inevitable. There would, however, be no repeat of Tim Krul’s heroics as Van Gaal had used up all of his substitutes.
Having been hailed for that masterstroke in the last match, Van Gaal’s decision to award the first penalty to Vlaar will forever be questioned, with reports circling that a few of the players had refused to take penalties, forcing the manager’s hand. Vlaar’s penalty was weak and straight at Sergio Romero. Argentina were more ruthless, with regular penalty taker Messi taking the first one; calmly slotting it to Cillessen’s right to give his team the lead.
Up stepped Robben and placed his penalty past Romero and Ezequiel Garay then smashed his straight down the middle, giving Cillessen no chance. Romero, though, proved to be the hero as he saved Wesley Sneijder’s well-placed effort. With Sergio Aguero and Dirk Kuyt both scoring, it was up to Maxi Rodriguez to send Argentina into the final. His penalty, to Cillessen’s right, was not the best. However, the keeper, either devoid of confident after being replaced for penalties in the previous match without being told beforehand that he would be substituted or merely overcome with nerves, could only palm it into the back of the net when he really should have saved it.
Argentina were in the final and Lionel Messi was just one match away from securing his place as one of the greatest players to ever play the game alongside Diego Maradona and Pele.
FIFA World Cup to make its first transatlantic trip to Europe
When the whistle blew at the Maracana to signal the start of the World Cup final, almost 64 years after the fateful night of the Maracanazo, the unthinkable had already happened for the Brazilians: their team was not here.
However, a second Maracanazo was possible: Argentina; bitter rivals Argentina, and their giant of a captain Lionel Messi could lift the trophy there -- inside the biggest stadium in the world, inside their own home.
In a cruel twist, the Brazilians inside and outside the Maracana were supporting the Germans, their conquerors, hoping that they would not have to face the shame of seeing Argentina conquer Brazil.
The Germans were there after 24 years -- and long years they had been. It was at the turn of the century that they underwent a major upheaval in their football system, focusing heavily on their youth. The upheaval showed signs of promise, with impressive German performances in the last few major tournaments.
But tonight, they needed to change that promise to something more palpable; tonight the young Germans needed to come of age; tonight they had to vindicate 14 years of hard work.
On the other side of the pitch stood Messi and his men, clad in their away blue kit -- but they were the ones at home. South America had always belonged to South America, and no team from another continent had ever claimed the World Cup here.
Outside the stadium in the heart of Rio de Janeiro, the statue of Christ the Redeemer stood tall over the city. Inside it, the shadow of Maradona loomed larger over his heir.
Can Messi deliver the World Cup to Argentina with a sub-standard team like Maradona had done in 1986, or would the final be one step too many for the tired shoulders of Messi to carry the weight of an entire nation’s hope? The question was on everybody’s mind, and with his legacy secure, Messi was out to build on his legend.
The early exchanges of the match were tentative, as could be expected, with both teams feeling their way into the biggest match of their lives. A quick Argentine counter from a German freekick in the fifth minute of the game was the only time that the match came alive during the first 20 minutes.
In the 21st minute, Toni Kroos, who had been the tournament’s outstanding German player in midfield, headed a complacent ball back towards Manuel Neuer but it fell straight into the path of Higuain, who was suddenly one-on-one with the goalkeeper and odds on to score. However, he scuffed his chance, volleying it wide of the mark.
Less than 10 minutes later, he had the ball in the back of the net from a Lavezzi cross and he reeled away in sheer joy with his eyes wide open, screaming in delight, fists clenched, running but not caring where to.
It took nearly 10 seconds for reality to kick in, the linesman had his flag up: offside. The goal would not count.
The match once again lulled, and it was in the 40th minute that it suddenly burst to life -- along with Messi. The captain drove right into the heart of the German defence, causing panic and disarray where there usually is calm and confidence. It took a hurried clearance from Jerome Boateng to ensure that no Argentine player took advantage of the havoc that Messi had caused.
Just before half time, the German machine suddenly, ominously, clicked into gear and Ozil found an unmarked Schurrle on the edge of the box in the 43rd minute, scorer of a brace in the semi and a ruthless finisher, but he shot straight at Romero.
A minute later, Muller delivered a splendid left-footed cross that took even Miroslav Klose by surprise.
The usually sharp poacher could just see the ball float just out of his reach as he was caught wrong-footed. Two minutes later, into the first minute of stoppage time, the Germans came even more agonisingly close as Kroos’ superb corner was headed onto the post by Benedikt Howedes from six yards out.
The whistle soon blew after that, signalling the end of a half that was often dull but would suddenly burst into life. At the break it remained 0-0.
The second half started unlike the first one, with the first big chance coming just two minutes in. No one in Argentina would have wanted it to fall to any man but the one it fell to: Messi. He had a clear sight on goal and from the right side, took a shot.
For a second, the Maracana stood still, preparing to erupt. The ball though, went just wide, when many a time it would have gone in. It was then that the Argentines started to worry that it may not be Messi’s day.
The games tempo was visibly higher than that of the first half and when Neuer took out Higuain, tempers started to flare as yellow cards piled up.
Kroos came close in the 81st minute from an Ozil pullback, and should really have at least troubled Romero as he had a lot of time to place his shot. That was the last big chance of the match in normal time, and at the end of the 90th minute it stayed 0-0.
The Germans were quick off the mark in added time, with Schurrle testing Romero but hitting straight at him in the 91st minute.
A superb ball from Rojo in the 97th minute found Palacio after Hummels seemed to have misjudged his header. The striker tried to dink the ball over Neuer, but ended up hitting it with his shin and it sailed harmless wide.
With legs tiring, the match slowed down and five minutes into the second half of extra time, penalties seemed almost inevitable.
However, it was not to be.
In the 113th minute of the match, Schurrle embarked on a superb run down Argentina’s right hand side before lifting the ball towards Gotze, who chested the ball down and volleyed it on the full.
The ball hit the back of the net and the Maracana exploded, as Germans and Brazilians alike celebrated; the Germans in triumph, the Brazilians in relief.
Messi had a free-kick from around 30 yards out in the last minute of the game. As he stood over the ball, the world stood still.
It was time for Messi to deliver -- to score from a spot not that different from the one for his free-kick against Nigeria. The Argentinians prayed fervently, while the Maracana stood silent and the seconds ticked by slowly.
He ran up to take it, going for power instead of his trusted placement, as if too desperate to score. It sailed over, causing strong reactions from supporters -- the Germans roared while the Argentinians’ tears flowed; both knew it was over then.
The whistle came moments later, and united Germany were crowned champions for the first time -- a fourth star added to the three earned by West Germany. This team was hailed by many to be the best ever, and they proved that that may not have been hyperbole.
As the Germans celebrated, Messi stood staring almost questioningly at the night sky, tears rolling down his otherwise emotionless face. He would undoubtedly be replaying the chances that they had missed in the match.
First Higuain, then him and then Palacio; all scuffing their mark when it mattered the most. And while the footballing world may forget Higuain and Palacio, his legend will endure, forever tainted.
It was in 1990 that Franz Beckenbauer had gushed over the unification of Germany, saying that a united German football side would bring about a new era of dominance in international football.
It took them 24 years to realise that potential, but they did not care. They were champions of the Marcana, of Rio, of Brazil, of South America, and most importantly of the World.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 15th, 2014.