GERMANY beat Argentina 1-0 to win its fourth World Cup on Sunday, taking soccer’s biggest prize for the first time in 24 years.

    Substitute Mario Goetze scored in the 113th minute to allow the Europeans to avoid a penalty shootout in Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium in Brazil.

    Germany is the first European team to capture the World Cup in Latin America. Its last title — in 1990 — also came over two-time champion Argentina. Lionel Messi, a record four-time World Player of the Year, will have to wait at least another four years to win his first World Cup.

    “It’s unbelievable what we have achieved,” German captain Philipp Lahm said. “We just stuck to our path and at the end we’re standing here as World champions. It’s an unbelievable feeling. The team stayed calm and patient, we knew that we had something left at the end.”

    Goetze broke into the Argentine penalty area to reach a return pass from Andre Schuerrle, cushioning the ball on his chest and volleying past Sergio Romero in goal. It came seven minutes before the end of extra time, and was the first time in the monthlong tournament that Argentina trailed. The tournament’s 2.7 goals per game is the highest scoring average since 1998 in France. There were 171 goals in the 64 matches, tying the mark set in the 1998 event.

    “Germany is a great team,” Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella told journalists. “The game had its ups and downs, and we had some clear chances. They were fresher. We had our opportunities today, but we needed more efficiency.”

    It was the third final between Germany and Argentina. Diego Maradona’s Argentina beat Germany 3-2 in Mexico in 1986 and the Germans avenged the defeat with a 1-0 win in Italy in 1990.(SD-Agencies)

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