Gotze’s golden goal enough for Germany

Germany 1 Argentina 0

Germany last night put paid to all that — and also their modern reputation as the nearly men of international football — with the narrowest of victories over Argentina in a protracted saga at the Maracana that was eventually settled by a wonderful extra-time goal from substitute Mario Gotze.

Few will begrudge Joachim Low his long-awaited success but romantics will note, with a sigh, that Germany’s fourth World Cup triumph also meant failure for Lionel Messi in his attempt to emulate Diego Maradona on football’s greatest stage.