NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Sport / Football / Football World Cup

Michael Burgess: Germany's victory saves the blushes of broken Brazilians

Michael Burgess
By Michael Burgess
Senior Sports Journalist·NZ Herald·
14 Jul, 2014 05:00 PM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Germany celebrate with the World Cup trophy. Photo / AP

Germany celebrate with the World Cup trophy. Photo / AP

Michael Burgess
Opinion by Michael Burgess
Michael Burgess has been a Sports Journalist for New Zealand's Herald since 2005, covering the Olympics, Fifa World Cups, and America’s Cup campaigns.
Learn more
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

With one sublime moment yesterday Germany broke a 24-year drought - and saved the World Cup for Brazil.

If Argentina had prevailed at the Maracana Stadium yesterday it is unlikely Brazil would ever want to host another tournament. They had to live with the pain of 1950's "Maracanazo" for decades; success for their arch rivals on their turf would have been a bridge too far.

The sub-plots yesterday made for a unique final in Rio de Janeiro. This was Argentina versus Germany and the whole of Brazil.

After Argentina's semifinal win over Holland, the headline in Brazil's biggest daily newspaper had simply read "Arghh!" It was turning into a double nightmare for Brazil; first their team was vanquished and in ruins, and now Argentina was playing for the title in Rio.

The rivalry between the two nations is fierce but Argentina haven't helped themselves during this tournament. Their supporters' World Cup anthem - which has even been sung by the players - begins by asking Brazil how it feels "to have the [football] masters in your backyard".

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Over the past few days tens of thousands of Argentine fans have turned Copacabana into a camping ground, sleeping in vehicles parked along the iconic beach front. They brought drums, flares and a lot of attitude, even unveiling a new song celebrating Brazil's seven-goal semifinal massacre.

"There is only one result possible today," said one local sporting a Germany shirt.

"We can't contemplate an Argentinian win."

For a long time in yesterday's match they had to.

Argentina started strongly, abandoning their circumspect approach of previous matches to create the best early chances. Their fans found their voice - reminding everyone that their Tricampeonato (third title) was on.

Discover more

Opinion

Nick McDonald: More trading lessons from the World Cup

13 Jul 10:06 PM
Football World Cup

10 great World Cup final goals

14 Jul 05:50 AM
Football World Cup

World Cup final: Five things we learned

14 Jul 03:35 AM

Their defence, which had steadily improved with every game, looked solid and Germany weren't quite the irresistible force of earlier games. The Europeans were under genuine pressure, something they hadn't felt since the second round game against Algeria.

It turned into a riveting contest. World Cup finals are supposed to be cagey affairs - and have been since the last memorable one in 1986 - but this one rewrote the script with an attacking verve.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The atmosphere was incredible inside the Maracana, although the German fans were almost sidelined. Instead, it was a vocal battle between the massed ranks of La Albiceleste support and the locals, who at times broke into "Ole" chants after a sequence of German passes.

Argentina wasted several chances - has there been a worst miss in a final than Gonzalo Higuain's scuffed attempt? - while Germany's Benedikt Howedes hit the post late in the first half.

Lionel Messi had some brilliant moments, but Argentina needed more from their skipper. Where was the desperation to seize the moment, to grab immortality?

At times he threatened to light up this final - one first-half run was reminiscent of El Diego - and it was surreal to witness 75,000 people hold their breath and fall silent every time he got the ball. But it wasn't enough and will be a long, long road to another final for Messi.

Germany found another gear in extra time, and looked the more urgent of the two sides. Argentina were tiring - though the South Americans had the best chance in the first period of extra time, with substitute Rodrigo Palacio wasting a golden chance.

Mario Gotze made him and Argentina pay, with a composed, classic goal in the 113th minute. Argentine post-mortems will examine how Andre Schuerrle was allowed to run almost 50m and get a cross in but Gotze's finish, from a tight angle, was exquisite.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

It was a fitting way to crown this tournament and the best strike seen in a decider for many years.

Germany now have four World Cups and with their young squad few would bet against them equalling Brazil's mark of five in 2018.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Football World Cup

Sport|football

World Cup payday: The ‘life-changing’ money All Whites receive for qualification

25 Mar 09:15 PM
Football World Cup

Why Chris Wood believes the All Whites can shine at Fifa World Cup

25 Mar 06:03 PM
Sport|football

New Caledonia's plan to stop Chris Wood with World Cup spot on the line

24 Mar 01:00 AM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Football World Cup

World Cup payday: The ‘life-changing’ money All Whites receive for qualification

World Cup payday: The ‘life-changing’ money All Whites receive for qualification

25 Mar 09:15 PM

Qualification is massive for the sport and also comes with huge financial rewards.

Why Chris Wood believes the All Whites can shine at Fifa World Cup

Why Chris Wood believes the All Whites can shine at Fifa World Cup

25 Mar 06:03 PM
New Caledonia's plan to stop Chris Wood with World Cup spot on the line

New Caledonia's plan to stop Chris Wood with World Cup spot on the line

24 Mar 01:00 AM
Wood hat-trick leaves All Whites one win away from World Cup

Wood hat-trick leaves All Whites one win away from World Cup

21 Mar 08:17 AM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP