Fergie’s World Cup Chewing Gum #11
Champions of the World! (FIFA World Cup)
Wildcard’s Word
And so in the end the best team won. It took nearly 112 minutes to break down the extremely well organised Argentinian defence but it happened. It had to happen.
18 goals in 7 games, 6 wins and a draw. Just 4 goals conceded. That’s the World Cup for Germany, an incredible effort. They basically rearranged the entire football system after a disastrous Euro 2000, and have made the semis in every major tournament since then. Amazing. This could actually be the best international team in a generation, considering that Spain’s reign only lasted a few years (though their dominance was unprecedented). It seems to me that the biggest thing for Germany in this cycle was Bayern winning the Champions League the other year. The core of their team is from that side, and learning to win and to balance that success with their own style of play, well, it’s Barcelona and Spain all over again.
I wish I was Mario Götze.
The Dutch finished nicely too, seeing off a broken Brazilian team. The most exciting thing from this tournament, as a Man Utd fan, has been the ongoing examples of genius from Louis Van Gaal. I can’t wait! Only 34 days to go until the Premier League starts…
Oh God, how am I gonna last that long?
Mystery Doc’s Word
It's been mentioned a few times on our pages and in the podcast that World Cups never really manage to live up to the lofty expectations especially with the big name players. We saw Ronaldo told to pack his bags early on, Neymar had Brazil wrapped around his pinky until he got injured and Messi, well Messi's face on the podium kinda said it all. Once again it feels that despite moments of their brilliance, we didn't get the individual show downs we hoped for.
But damn, we got something better. We got a team with a reasonably equal talent distribution who simply did the business. Mario Gotze's goal was fitting of the occassion in all ways. The way he scored and him being a substitute along with Andre Schurrle, kinda displayed the skill throughout the German squad.
It's kinda been that way with the San Antonio Spurs winning the NBA and now this German side notching up another win for playing the right way. Super.
Official Awards
The Best of Social Media
Hi-5s
Mario Götze (Germany) – The hero of the day. Comes on as a sub, scores a lovely goal. You’d be proud of that on any occasion, club or country. But in extra time of the World Cup Final? Whatever he does in his career from now on, he’ll always have that moment.
Joachim Löw (Germany) – Every move he’s made in reinvigorating this national side – the youth, the style, the passing/possession emphasis – has been justified by this. The mastermind behind the machine.
Germany – Plus the rest of them get hi-5s too. Not just the players, or their unreasonably attractive WAGs, but the German people as a whole. The streets of Berlin oughta be pumping for weeks to come.
Hugs
Fred (Brazil) – The striker took so much mudslinging during the tournament, despite his teammates hardly inspiring around him (a few notables aside). But if you’re gonna fill the role of such illustrious predecessors as Pele and Ronaldo, that can happen. He’s announced his international retirement at the age of just 30. Better than being lynched.
Lionel Messi (Argentina) – He’ll probably be blamed for his team not winning, but he basically got them here by himself (with some help from Monster Masch). Germany were better. They shut him down. Then he had to wander up the stairs by himself at the most heartbroken moment of his life to get the emptiest/most valuable personal award of his career. Sad Lionel.
Slaps
Gonzalo Higuaín (Argentina) – You might only get one decent chance in a World Cup final. Got to do better than that, son.
Brazil – More of the same in the 3rd/4th playoff, even if it was a meaningless game. The penalty shouldn’t have been since it was outside the box where the foul occurred, but Thiago shoulda been sent off as the last man, so don’t bother complaining. David Luiz set up the second too with a perfectly placed header to an opponent in the box.
Golden Boot Watch
6 - James Rodriguez (Colombia)
5 – Thomas Müller (Germany)
4 – Lionel Messi (Argentina)
4 – Robin Van Persie (Netherlands)
4 – Neymar (Brazil)