• GALLERY World Cup 2014 in pictures
• Screamers: The best goals of World Cup 2014
• It’s been a funny old World Cup – best memes 
• TND’s Team of the World Cup 
• 10 best World Cup goals of all time

7.36. THAT’S ALL FOLKS. The ref blows the whistle. It is Germany’s World Cup. The champion team defeated the Messi-dominated Argentina 1-0.

It is the first time a European team has won the event when staged in South America. A much deserved victory, coming off the back of a 7-1 win over the host nation Brazil in the semi-final.

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Great finish. Thoroughly deserved. Best TEAM all tournament. No individuals. #WorldCupFinal #WorldCup2014

— Scott Chipperfield (@chippers1975) July 13, 2014

7.35 am: Argentina’s (probably) last chance: A free to Lionel Messi from long range, but he sends the shot high and wide. He manages a wry smile.

7.24 am: SUPER MARIO! GERMANY SCORES!!!!!!!

1-0.

THE HERO IS MARIO GOETZE.

He controlled a cross from the left on his chest, put it straight on to his left boot and, faling to the turf, guided the ball across Romero into the far corner. Spectacular stuff.

Angela Merkel is having kittens in the stand.

Here’s the goal by Götze to put Germany up 1-0 in extra-time of the World Cup Final. #GERvsARG https://t.co/7GmCAepycJ

— Austin Hunt (@iAustinHunt) July 13, 2014

7.04 am: At the other end, Palacio had a chance, but did not make the most of it.

7.00 am: Romero makes a sharp stage early in extra time:

ROMERO!! RT @FlyByKnite: Sergio Romero makes a huge stop here. [GIF]: http://t.co/U7EO68Oqxc — BuzzFeed Sports (@BuzzFeedSports) July 13, 2014

  6.59 am: The tension of the first half was too much for one fan:

Security officials detain a pitch invader at The Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro #WorldCup #Ger #Arg @tofsimon pic.twitter.com/7IVNIc4Drn — Agence France-Presse (@AFP) July 13, 2014

6.52 am: That’s it. We are going into extra time.

6.49m am: INJURY TIME. Who has the legs?

6.48 am: As we approach full-time, both coaches ring changes. For Argentina: Gago on for Perez. For Germany: Goetze on for Klose.

Official attendance at #WorldCup final: 74.738. The #Maracana used to be able to hold +200k. via @copagov pic.twitter.com/RdUNb9SUT1 — Will Connors (@wconnors) July 13, 2014

6.41 am: Germany has done some serious attacking in the past five minutes. In the latest surge, Toni Kroos pushes one wide of Romero.

6.39 am: Never mind the scoreline. This is one hell of a match. This old Swan agrees:

If I hear anyone say this game is boring then you’re out! #GERARG — Luke Ablett (@luke_ablett) July 13, 2014

6.33 am:  Messi plays footsies with German defence before hitting one wide. Lovely to watch, but is he trying to do to much by himself?

6.28 am: Psst, Angela, have you ever thought about world domination? As for the bloke on the left, we make absolutely no comment.

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6.23 am: Yellow card for Aguero. Ref is handing them out like fliers to a strip club.

6.19 am:  Ok, in light of our discussion about the lack of superficiality, allow us this indulgence:

Ref sees himself on the big screen. Sorts his quiff out. #worldcupfinal https://t.co/FA0qUEWUQW — The Latest (@latest_is) July 13, 2014

6.15 am: OUCH! Higuain, who has been in the thick of everything, is smashed by German goal-keeper Manuel Neuer.

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6.13 am: Still, not everyone is happy with the commentator. This from the younger generation:

Need a bit more from you Martin. It’s the World Cup final — Lachie Smithers (@lachie_1407) July 13, 2014

6.10 am: Funny, we are more than halfway through the final and Martin Tyler has not once discussed the hairstyle, dress sense or what nightclub his fellow commentators attended last night – let alone the sexual orientation of the players. Silly us. There are no fellow commentators. Just one chap calling the match. Fancy that, they obviously can’t afford another one.

6.05 am: Messi is immediately into the action, shooting from the left side with his left boot. But he cuts it back too hard and it flies by the right-hand side of the net.

6.03 am: Second half commences. Argentina has replaced Lavezzi with Sergio Aguero.

Two golden chances for #Higuain in an open first half https://t.co/ilzZSnHpGi #ARG #GER #WorldCupFinal @theagesport @SMHsport @theage_video — Tom McKendrick (@tommckendrick) July 13, 2014

Two golden chances for

Hummels looks extremely vulnerable against someone with a bit of pace. In this case … Messi. — David Dick (@CarlosDebacle) July 13, 2014

5.47 am:  HALF-TIME. 0-0. While we’re waiting for the action to resume, here’s a gallery of stunning images from the Wold Cup for you to flip through.

5.45 am: Drama in the Argentinian goal as Benedikt Howedes hits the upright with a superb header from a corner. The ball then ricochets off Muller into the arms of ‘keeper Sergio Romero. Would have been off-side, as it turns out, but it was a hell of a play.

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You won’t hear it from any manager or commentator, but the judgement of off- side in this World Cup has been razor sharp. #WorldCup2014 — Greg Baum (@GregBaum) July 13, 2014

  5.30 am: Shocking foul from Germany’s Benedikt Howedes earns him a yellow card.

5.29 am: Another one that got away for Argentina. Gonzalo Higuain puts the ball into the back of the net and embarks on a lap of the stadium, not aware that the flag is up for off-side.

That awkward moment over 800 million people watch you celebrate like mad…only for it to be offside. pic.twitter.com/L7KYqbDtsU — GeniusFootball (@GeniusFootball) July 13, 2014

5.28 am: Yellow card for Germany’s Bastian Schweinsteiger.

5.25 am: German player Christoph Kramer, who went down after taking a blow to the head near the German goal, has been substituted. After the incident, he walked along the sideline looking groggy and dejected. The docs checked him out and ruled out.

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5.20 am: The one that got away! Argentina’s Gonzalo Higuain had only the ‘keeper to beat, but, searching for power, pushed the shot wide. The first real chance.

Higuiain just stared @FIFAWorldCup in the eyes and he blinked.. @abcgrandstand @GGArmy — Francis Leach (@SaintFrankly) July 13, 2014

What a start that would’ve been for #ARG I’m like nooooo #timcahilling #offside pic.twitter.com/gR2y8Xn5sV — Tim Cahill (@Tim_Cahill) July 13, 2014

5.15 am: Germany wins a corner, to no avail.

5.07 am: Dashing run by Messi down the right, just to remind us who is boss

5.06 am: Germany has settled superbly. Muller has another shot, but straight into the arms of the Argentinan ‘keeper.

5.02 am: Germany’s Thomas Muller wins the first free kick of the match after being met heavily in the air outside the box. Early crisis averted for Argentina as it is successfully defended.

5.00 am: Greetings from the Maracana. We have a full house, national anthems out of the way and, at last, kick off in The Big One.

Germany will play Argentina in the World Cup final seeking a fourth Cup triumph, while Lionel Messi will be looking to seal his place in the top echelons of football history.

The Germans enter the final as the tournament’s form team, having thrashed the host Brazil 7-1 in the semi-finals in a seismic result that shook the tournament and international football.

• Screamers: The best goals of World Cup 2014
• It’s been a funny old World Cup: Best humour
• TND’s team of the World Cup: Who’s in, who’s out?

Germany also comes into the game with the benefit of an extra day’s rest after spending the majority of its semi-final in second gear after sealing the win over Brazil inside the first 30 minutes.

Argentina, seeking a third World Cup title, will have to battle against any tiredness after battling out a penalty shoot-out win over the Netherlands in 120 minutes, and with one day less to recover.

Here, The New Daily Daily follows all the action live. Our live blog will kick off as the two teams prepare for the opening whistle in the biggest game of football you’ll see in four years, possibly longer.

STAY TUNED …