World Cup win is 'supreme coronation' - Deschamps.Mbappe will be the best in the world - the pundits' view.The pace did not let up at the start of extra time as Schurrle sent in a shot that was easily dealt with by Romero while at the other end Neuer tidied up Aguero's cross after a swift Argentine break.France's victory meant Deschamps, who captained them 20 years ago, became just the third man to win the competition as a player and coach.Ĭroatia also felt their luck deserted them, but ultimately France ran out victorious to erase the memories of the loss to Portugal in the Euro 2016 final in Paris. Klose became the all-time World Cup leading scorer when he struck against Brazil, and at 36 a World Cup final appearance was a fitting end to a marvellous career. This was Argentina's Achilles heel: they were creating openings, but rarely could they trouble Neuer with a shot on target.īoth coaches rang the changes, and Klose received a warm ovation when he was replaced with just minutes left by Goetze. Messi danced around the edge of the penalty area before getting off another shot that curled just wide. The ever combative Javier Mascherano, the heartbeat of this Argentine side, found himself in the book for a late challenge on German striker Mirolav Klose, and moments later Sergio Aguero met the same fate for a late challenge on Bastian Schweinsteiger as the cautions began to mount. Germany's stroll in the park on Tuesday against Brazil would hardly have taken anything out of them, while Argentina, who played a day later against The Netherlands in the other semi final, had to go through 120 minutes and a penalty shoot out, a game which their coach, Alejandro Sabella, described as a ''war''. Whether he should have done so leading with his knee is another issue, and his challenge evoked comparisons with the far worse one by another German goalkeeper, Toni Schumacher, in the 1982 World Cup, when he knocked out Frenchman Patrick Battiston.Īs the clock ticked by, the issue of fatigue began to raise itself. While Higuain protested, the goalkeeper was entitled to go for the ball and he did reach it before the Argentinian. Neuer, renowned for his expertise as a ''sweeper keeper'', then had to be out off his line smartly to punch clear a long ball as Higuain chased the pass down, the German collecting the striker in the head with his knee as he jumped. Messi had a wonderful opportunity to put Argentina ahead shortly after the restart when he was played clear in the penalty area, but once again he pulled his shot wide of Neuer's left post. Romero saved from Kroos, Mueller sent a curling shot wide and then Hedwiges crashed a header off the woodwork in the shadows of half time as this game really caught fire. The danger then appeared at the other end when Messi's sprint and driving run into the box got him round the back of the German defence to beat Neuer, although Jerome Boateng scrambled the ball clear.
His replacement, Schurrle, then tested Romero in the Argentine goal with a well struck shot after Mueller got clear on the left. The 23-year-old had been hit hard in the head by an elbow by Garay and had never looked as if he was conscious of his whereabouts afterwards before being replaced after half an hour because of what appeared to be concussion. Germany were dealt a major blow when youngster Kramer, who had replaced Khedira minutes before the start, was forced to leave the field after half an hour.
Thomas Mueller linked well on the right with Mesut Ozil as they tried to pull the well organised Argentine defence out of shape with little immediate success. The German defence, which had rarely been tested by quarter-final opponents France or Brazil in that bizarre semi-final looked like breaking on several occasions, struggling to cope not just with the tricks of Messi but the direct speedy running of Lavezzi, who attacked from the flanks or through the middle. Faced with opponents who would not buckle like Brazil, Germany had to gather themselves and dig in for what promised to be a long haul.
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