MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Show the world you are better than Messi”, Löw told Götze

The German team celebrating the score

“Show the world you are better than Messi and you can decide the World Cup”, German coach Joachim Löw told Mario Götze before sending him to the field, and effectively scoring the only goal of the match that gave Germany its fourth Cup.

“We're the first European team that has won a world title in South America, in Rio do Janeiro, in a country that is mad over soccer. That makes us specially proud” said Löw on Sunday after the Maracana final.

The man who also coached in South Africa 2010, but only made it to the semifinals, added that the German team's victory was not unfair, “yes we were lucky to score in the extra time, but it was not unfair”.

Löw revealed that the project to conquer the fourth Cup was started ten years ago, “and I believe our strength is the fact that during that time we kept progressing although we hadn't achieved this before. We worked very hard and if someone deserved this title it was this team”.

“We always displayed good football, in the final as during all matches. I don't think anybody played better than we did”, concluded Löw.

But for Argentine forward Lionel Messi it was a different story: he admitted to being “devastated” about the loss against Germany while saying the Albiceleste forwards had several chances to score but could not seize them.

“We had our chances but we could not score. In games like these that is not acceptable,” Messi told reporters after the game at Maracana. “We played a good game against a very good team. We deserved more, but we could not take the cup back home,” he added.

Messi, who was named the best player of the 2014 Cup, said this it was the worst defeat in his entire career and insisted he feels “devastated”.

“We had the chance to change things. We could have won and brought happiness to our people. But we just could not. Now we have to look forward and think about what comes next.”

As regards the Golden Ball he received as best player of the World Cup, Messi admitted he just “does not care about the award.” “I wanted to lift the World Cup. This award means nothing to me.”

Argentina's coach Alejandro Sabella paid tribute to his players despite an agonizing 1-0 defeat to Germany stating that he was proud of the men who brought the Albiceleste to their first final in 24 years.

“I feel a great sadness for not being able to win, but I am proud of the team,” an emotional Sabella told reporters after the final whistle in Rio de Janeiro. “I congratulate the players, who are the pride of this country after this game and the championship they played.”

Questioned over a tight match, which Argentina could have won if chances for Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Rodrigo Palacio had not been steered wide, Sabella was circumspect.

“Results are always secondary. Today we were beaten at some points, at others we had clear chances, but we were up against a great team,” he concluded.

It was later reported that Sabella received a phone call from President Cristina Fernandez who congratulated him and the team for the magnificent game and performance of the players.

“All Argentines are proud of your team, congratulations”, said the president.

Cristina Fernandez is scheduled to meet the team when they return from Brazil Monday morning at the Ezeiza training ground belonging to the Argentine Football Association.

Following the reception the president will be flying to El Calafate in Santa Cruz to the birthday celebration of her first grandson Nestor Ivan Kirchner.

On Tuesday the Argentine leader flies to Brazil for the BRICS summit to which she has been invited.