IT was Lionel Messi’s time to make a difference. Instead it was Mario Goetze who did it.

Substitute Goetze’s stunning extra-time winner helped Germany grab their fourth World Cup crown after a 1-0 victory over Argentina at the Maracana Stadium on Sunday.

Germany’s victory ended the 24-year wait for a World Cup title and made them the first side from Europe to be crowned world champions in the Americas.

No European side had won the World Cup across the Atlantic but Goetze’s 113rd-minute goal which came after a brilliant piece of individual skill, saw them create history.

Running onto Andre Schuerlle’s cross, Goetze controlled the ball superbly with his chest before rifling in a shot from an acute angle which gave Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero no chance.

It sent German fans at Rio’s iconic stadium into frenzy and left hordes of Argentinean fans wondering where the player they expected them to do the same went missing.

Messi was expected to inspire Argentina to their third World Cup title — and a first since 1986 — and although he had a chance to haul them back with the last action of the game, he sent his free-kick high and wide.

Germany had lost on the semi-finals on each of the last two occasions, having also been losing finalists in 2002 but victory for Joachim Loew’s men meant they ended their chokers’ tag.

But it didn’t come easy for Loew.

Christoph Kramer who had played in just two games and 12 minutes before the final was a surprise starter for Germany in place of midfield lynchpin Sami Khedira who was a late withdrawal with a calf injury.

Argentina started with the same team which began their semi-final against the Netherlands and it was Gonzalo Higuain who came close in the opening minutes, his shot flashing just wide, before Messi’s cross was blocked.

Germany had the bulk of the possession but it was Argentina who were enjoying chances on the counter-attack. Higuain came close again, firing wide with just Neuer to beat midway through the first-half.

The Napoli striker though did have the ball in the back of the net on the half hour mark when he tucked in a cross by Ezequiel Lavezzi.

The hordes of Argentina fans in the stands screamed with joy before their celebrations were cut short 10 seconds later when they finally realized that the linesman had already raised his flag for offside.

Two minutes later, Kramer; who had earlier suffered a knock to his head, was taken off and substituted by Schuerrle.

Schuerrle almost made immediate impact with his shot off a cutback from Miroslav Klose, forcing a decent save of Sergio Romero.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2014