Germany beats Argentina 1-0, wins World Cup

It is the beauty and tragedy of sport in general, and football in particular. 

Both Germany and Argentina missed chances in the 2014 World Cup final, as the Maracana crowd reverberated around them. 

But it was Germany who could pull it off. Their relentless pressure finally resulted in Mario Gotze's extra-time winner, beating Argentina to be crowned world champions for the fourth time.

Here are images that capture the pleasure and pain of the final game. 

Mario Goetze's superb 113th minute volley gave Germany their fourth World Cup title and their first since they became a unified country with a 1-0 win over Lionel Messi's Argentina at the Maracana on Sunday.

Each side had chances during the match with Messi going agonisingly close in the 46th minute, scuffing his shot with the ball rolling just wide of the far post.

Rhiannon Elston met these German fans in Sydney - but has their magic bunny made the right call? 

Brazilian fans have suffered another humiliation in the World Cup, this time at the hands of the Dutch.

Focus is now shifting firmly towards the Germans and their co-finalists Argentina. The thousands of visiting Argentine fans believe that this could be their big chance, reports Brett Mason from Rio de Janeiro.