Posted on 07/13/2014 10:37:26 PM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
Germany won the World Cup. Host Brazil won a world of new friends.
The now four-time champions, the first European team to win the World Cup on Latin American soil, earned the honor of lifting the most recognized trophy in sports with a tooth-and-nail 1-0 victory in a final as terrifically entertaining as the tournament itself.
For a 32-day showcase of football at its best, the winning goal was beautifully appropriate. Mario Goetze controlled the ball with his chest and then volleyed it into the Argentine goal, making difficult skills look so simple. Scored in the 113th minute, the mortal blow left Argentina too little time to recover.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, sitting in the VIP section, waved a clenched fist as Goetze celebrated. When referee Nicola Rizzoli blew the final whistle a few minutes later, Vladimir Putin reached across and shook Merkel's hand. The Russian president's country hosts the next World Cup in 2018.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
And this weekend we have the British Open. Yes!
Hog mounter.
Very happy he survived!
With two quick, deft touches, Goetze ended Germany's 24-year wait for another World Cup title with an extra-time winner against Argentina on Sunday — denying Messi the one title he needs to forever take his place among the game's all-time greats.
It was the moment of brilliance that ensured Germany's 1-0 victory in a tight and tense final.
Yeah, he got a pretty good cut. Argy’s fingernail?
He was pretty tough and didn’t play hurt like some do.
There was some headknocking going on, that’s for sure.
They left it on the field, as the cliche goes.
Yawn
The stakes don’t get any higher, in the world of soccer.
I think everyone aged a year.
Please see my comment #3.
WIR SIND WELTMEISTER! pic.twitter.com/Z1uXlIY2bl— Jens Grittner (@JensGrittner) July 13, 2014
Parents with small children could be seen fleeing in fear after police, who initially remained on the sidelines as jubilant fans poured into downtown Buenos Aires, began chasing down the vandals on motorcycles. The youths, many of them with their faces covered and drinking heavily, responded by hurling rocks, destroying store fronts and even breaking into a theater.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.