Argentina germany soccer game

The first half came to a dramatic conclusion. Messi squeezed the ball past Neuer, but Jerome Boateng cleared off the line. And Benedikt Howedes hit a post with a header from Kroos' corner. Less than 90 seconds after the restart, Messi found a way through the Germany defence, but he dragged his shot a foot wide when he should have scored.

Neuer had to revert to the sweeper role he had performed against Algeria as he came right to the edge of his box to punch a long ball by Pablo Zabaleta, taking Higuain with his knee in the process. A dazed Higuain, holding his head, demanded a penalty, but the referee waved play on.

As the clock ticked toward 90 minutes, both teams started to take fewer risks. Even a moment of magic from Messi was foiled by Neuer, who came racing off his line to smother the ball after the Argentina captain skipped past four defenders.

With nine minutes left, Kroos placed a low shot wide, much to the annoyance of manager Joachim Low. Klose's record-breaking World Cup career ended when he was substituted for Gotze in the 88th minute.

Gotze sent a weak shot into Sergio Romero's arms, and the game then petered out until the referee blew to signal the end of 90 minutes. Sabella tried to fire his men up with a motivational talk just before extra time, but Germany came out stronger. Argentina were almost a goal down when Muller returned Schurrle's pass, and he fired a strong drive that Romero did well to parry. Argentina had their big chance moments later when Hummels failed to clear a routine cross.

The ball fell for Palacio, but his lob went wide. Aguero drew blood from under Schweinsteiger's right eye as they jumped for the ball. Then came the killer moment that won the Germans the World Cup. He raced down the left side past three Argentines and crossed for Gotze, who cushioned the ball on his chest and swept the ball past Romero from close range. Gordon Strachan may actually be looking forward to it.

Amid the increasing gloom, there was one slightly comic element. The match announcer who had started off in such high spirits dutifully did his job, but as each Argentina goal went in he sounded so deflated and in such despair that you feared for him. But Lionel Messi was not one, as he was injured playing for Barcelona on Sunday.

However, the most expensive player in British football was on show and was on good form. That first goal killed the party atmosphere stone dead but it was not the only time that the new-look Germany defence seemed uncertain of its bearings.

It was a brilliant goal but it showed what a difference a makeshift defence makes. It was not the sort of goal Germany conceded in Brazil. They celebrate when they can in this part of western Germany but the World Cup party has well and truly ended. Argentina keeper Sergio Romero makes a stress-free save. Two yellow cards add to Germany's worries. Bastian Schweinsteiger and Benedikt Howedes are booked for obvious fouls, and both must exercise caution the rest of the way.

Lionel Messi sent a few jolts of electricity through the crowd -- without Germany getting shocked. He overhits a shot above the crossbar, then dribbles deep but to no ultimate reward. Germany's first serious threat occurs a few minutes before halftime. A chain of effective passes leaves Miroslav Klose with a decent look from just outside the box.

His mid-speed shot settles up against keeper Sergio Romero's stomach. Germany's second comes soon after on a corner kick.

Toni Kroos' feed finds the head of the charging Howedes. His try strikes the right post, and the ball returns to a scrum of players. Before any damage can be done, the assistant referee raises the offside flag. Each team heads to the locker room with only three shots, none paying off, but the game is more wide open than the statistic would suggest.

Christoph Kramer, Germany's 11th-hour starter, is inadvertently struck in the face, goes down and heads to the sidelines for evaluation. Temporarily down a man, Germany remains on the offensive as he prepares to return. The goat horns are about to grow large on midfielder Toni Kroos, who heads the ball back toward his goalkeeper, only to see it roll right to Argentina's Gonzalo Higuain.

The forward has no white shirts in front of him. Keeper Manuel Neuer comes forward to squeeze the angle, but Higuain still has lots of space at which to aim. Remarkably, he booms a shot wide left, easing Neuer's load and erasing those goat horns on a relieved Kroos.

Even with most of the ball possession, Germany comes up with one shot in the opening 30 minutes. A pair of nifty passes does loosen up the back line. Bastian Schweinsteiger's beautiful long serve to Miroslav Klose is grabbed by keeper Sergio Romero in mid-air, and a delivery by Philipp Lamm is canceled by offside. Argentina finds the net on a Higuain shot from close in, set up by Ezequiel Lavezzi's serve.

Higuain's celebration is spoiled by an offside ruling. Higuain broke open when Kramer, still feeling the effects of the head blow, stumbled. At the next dead ball, Kramer is lifted for Andre Schuerrle. Argentina allows Germany to play soccer's version of pitch-and-catch in the middle of the field, then swarms around the ball as it advances into scoring range. The Argentines finally mount a counter, with Lionel Messi racing with purpose up the right side. He proceeds all the way to the goal line, but a cross into the box does not connect with a teammate.

Germany earns a free kick from a distance, then a corner kick. Both are easily defensed as the underdog gets through the first quarter of an hour without a scare. Germany's status as prohibitive favorite shrinks slightly just before kickoff when midfielder Sami Khedira is scratched with a calf injury sustained during warmups.

His replacement is Christoph Kramer. Khedira becomes the second player in two days removed from the lineup with a pregame injury. The Netherlands' Wesley Sneijder was swapped out of the third-place match after getting hurt while loosening up. Both Germany and Argentina are staying with the lineups that brung 'em here, at least from the semifinals.

The starting 11 for each squad is unchanged from their most recent games. Argentina would have welcomed making a switch. Angel di Maria, who sat out the semis with a strained thigh, was excluded from the Argentine lineup. Enzo Perez steps in again. A minor injury concern for Germany proved insignificant with Mats Hummels' inclusion. The defender nicked his knee against Brazil. Weather conditions are ideal, with the temperatures in the low 70s before kickoff and no rain in the forecast.

Messi, considered the world's best player, is trying to lead Argentina to its third title. The Argentines, who won their last title in over Germany, , in Mexico, have struggled on offense.