Neuer wins Golden Glove Messi bags Golden Ball RIO DE JANEIRO: ’s Manuel Neuer won the World RIO DE JANEIRO: Lionel Messi, who lost out on the World Cup Cup Golden Glove award for the tournament’s best goal- title after ’s 1-0 loss to Germany in yesterday’s final, was keeper after helping his side to a 1-0 victory over Argentina named the Golden Ball player of the tournament. The Barcelona in yesterday’s final. legend and four time Player of the Year was a key part in The 28-year-old Bayern Munich player was presented Argentina’s march to the Maracana stadium, picking up four with the award at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium man of the match performances. moments after the triumph. “It is unbelievable, and an awe- He scored four goals at the tournament, but failed to pick up some experience,” said Neuer of his side’s victory, which the one honor eluding him after Germany substitute Mario gave Germany their fourth world title. “We have had incredi- Goetze’s 113th minute goal dashed the South Americans’ dream ble cohesion since the start of our preparations. We have of a third title. had our share of setbacks, including losing players like Lars While the 27-year-old has won everything there is to win- and Sven Bender, as well as Marco Reus, who all deserve to and broken every record there is to break-with Barcelona, the final offered him the opportunity to definitively seal his legacy in be world champions. “Germany are world champions. I don’t know how long we the sport. Pele, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo all scored decisive goals in finals, while will celebrate, but we will go about it with big grins.” Neuer beat off competition Diego Maradona created the goal that settled the 1986 tournament, but Messi found from Argentine opposite number Sergio Romero and Keylor Navas of surprise himself upstaged by Mario Goetze’s sensational extra-time winner for Germany. —AFP MONDAY, JULY 14, 2014 package Costa Rica to win the award. — AFP

RIO DE JANEIRO: Germany’s team holds the World Cup trophy as they celebrate after winning the 2014 FIFA World Cup final football match against Argentina 1-0 following extra-time at the Maracana Stadium. — AFP 4orce germany!

First European team to win World Cup in South America

RIO DE JANEIRO: Mario Goetze scored a superb lievable feeling. “The team stayed calm and enced Christoph Kramer replacing Sami Khedira Moments later, Higuain had the ball in the net for often threatening on the break. extra-time winner as Germany beat Argentina 1-0 patient, we knew that we had something left at after the Real Madrid star injured a calf in the warm Argentina only to see the goal disallowed for off- Messi squandered another golden Argentinian to become the first European team to win a World the end.” The decisive moment of a World Cup up. With Bastian Schweinsteiger running midfield side. chance shortly after the restart, latching onto a Cup held in South America yesterday. brimming with wonderful goals came with penal- the Germans laid siege to Argentinian territory, Germany’s personnel problems deepened pass from Lucas Biglia but scuffing his shot wide of Bayern Munich star Goetze struck in the 113th ties looming in front of 74,738 fans at Rio de passing smoothly and denying Messi a route into when Kramer himself went off, prompting the Neuer. minute to finally break Argentina’s resistance as Janeiro’s famous Maracana Stadium. the game. introduction of Schuerrle. The hard-fought nature of the contest led to a Lionel Messi’s dream of emulating Diego Andre Schuerrle burst clear down the left flank Yet for all Germany’s early dominance they cre- The Germans remained unfazed by the setback flurry of cards from referee Nicola Rizzoli, who cau- Maradona ended in defeat. and crossed for Goetze. The 22-year-old took the ated little in the way of clear chances. And it was however, and quickly set about reimposing their tioned Javier Mascherano and Sergio Aguero in Germany has now won four World Cups, put- ball on his chest and then volleyed past Sergio Argentina who were presented with a glorious control of the game. Schuerrle drew a fine near- quick succession for fouls on Miroslav Klose and ting the European powerhouses just one behind Romero to spark delirium amongst the largely chance to open the scoring. Toni Kroos misdirect- post save from Romero on 37 minutes with a rasp- Schweinsteiger. Brazil’s record tally of five. pro-German crowd. ed a header back to Manuel Neuer to send ing shot after Mueller’s cutback. The remainder of the half saw neither side able “It’s unbelievable what we have achieved. Messi was largely anonymous for most of the Gonzalo Higuain racing through on goal. But with But the latent threat of Messi meant Germany to get on top. Germany controlled possession Whether we have the best individual player evening and his miserable evening was summed only Neuer to beat the Napoli striker dragged his could never entirely relax. Messi burst away down without really testing Romero, while Argentina doesn’t matter at all, you just need to have the best up when a late free-kick to equalise sailed over the shot wide to disbelief from fans and team-mates. the right and raced into the box, toe-poked past were unable to pass a German defence superbly team,” said delighted Germany captain Philipp bar. The victory was celebrated raucously by Germany continued to probe for openings, and Neuer only for Jerome Boateng to clear. marshalled by Mats Hummels and Boateng. Lahm. Brazilians in the crowd, who had dreaded the a Lahm pass almost put Thomas Mueller clear. The On the stroke of half-time Benedikt Hoewedes Schuerrle came closest to breaking the dead- “We improved throughout the tournament and prospect of sworn South American rivals Argentina pace of Argentina on the counter-attack continued came within inches of scoring, crashing a header lock in the first period of extra-time, forcing didn’t get down when things didn’t always go our lifting the title in their backyard. to unsettle Germany however. Schweinsteiger from a Kroos corner against the post. Romero into a desperate block. Penalties looked to way, we just stuck to our path and at the end we’re An absorbing first half saw Germany forced into picked up a yellow card for bringing down The second half followed a similar pattern, be the likeliest outcome, but Goetze had other standing here as world champions. It’s an unbe- a reshuffle moments before kick-off with inexperi- Ezequiel Lavezzi just after the half hour mark. Germany controlling possession but Argentina ideas. — AFP

Heroes and villains Either side of Gaza border,

PARIS: Like any good drama or pantomime the World Cup threw up its fair share Sunday he delivered a notable knockout blow to four-time world footballer of the fans cheer World Cup teams of heroes and villains over the five weeks of competition. year Lionel Messi and his Argentinian team-mates. Here AFP selects five in each category though heroism or villainy can be differ- MEFALSIM KIBBUTZ: A cry of despair think about it.” ent in the eye of the beholder: James Rodriguez (COL) emanates from Mefalsim kibbutz, a few He made the absence of talismanic Colombian striker Radamel miles from the Gaza border. But it’s ACROSS THE BORDER IN GAZA Villains Falcao irrelevant as the angelic-faced 23-year-old scored six goals and nothing to do with rocket fire - But Gazans cannot afford to forget Arjen Robben (NED) set up two goals to boot. Showed great maturity in not losing his cool Germany have just denied Argentina the Israeli operation that has claimed The flying or diving Dutchman enjoys a roving role in the two categories. under intense provocation from the robust tactics adopted by the the World Cup. at least 170 lives and injured more than When on his feet he had a largely outstanding World Cup but when his country Brazilians in their quarter-final. The irony was that he ended up being Dozens of residents of the kibbutz 1,000 people in the Strip, as air strikes needed him most he went into hiding in the semi-final. The 30-year-old forward booked for an innocuous foul. Tears at the end but he brought much joy. gathered late Sunday to support continue to rain down. Argentina, their country of origin, as Nowhere is open in Gaza for people Israel waged an aerial campaign to watch the match in public. The against next door Gaza, and rockets streets are empty and people stay continued to rain into the Jewish state. indoors, watching if they can with The Schwartzberg family have erect- friends and family and praying for ed a big screen in their garden to show delivery from bombing raids. “We will always dazzle with some of his trickery, the other side of it - tricking refer- Yohan Cabaye (FRA) the football match, and neighbours decided to organise a get-together ees - will always infuriate people. Performed well on the pitch for tuck into grilled chorizo sausage and under the staircase in our building so France but his intervention after a couple of French enjoy beers as cries of “Vamos that we don’t have to leave if a bomb- Luis Suarez (URU) players namely Morgan Schneiderlin and Bacary Sagna Argentina!” ring out in Spanish. Air raid ing starts suddenly,” says Mohammed Or ‘Chewy Luis and the News’ as some have titled him could have said they should win the World Cup after topping their sirens intermittently sound, as rockets Akila, 26, in Gaza City. been in the heroes column if he continued in the same vein as his group otherwise it would be a failure earns him special are fired from the Gaza Strip some 10 “We want to watch the final - it startling two goals against less than a month after under- praise. “The fact we showed our quality in the group stage kilometres (6 miles) away, but residents would be a shame to miss the World going knee surgery. However, his bad habit of being attracted to obviously should make us more confident but not arro- human flesh returned as Giorgio Chiellini’s shoulder attested to. gant, otherwise we are going to have major problems,” who are normally ready to scramble to Cup fun,” he says. Akila will at least Denied it, then apologised though it appears it stemmed from a said the 28-year-old displaying the sort of down to earth shelters remain glued to the screen. have some cause for celebration, hav- request by Barcelona who he subsequently joined. common sense that would have stood the cursed team of Chacho Schwartzberg, 64, has been an ing declared before the match that he 2010 in good stead. Israeli since 1986, the year Argentina was supporting Germany, who went on Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng (GHA) last won the World Cup, but proudly to win 1-0 in extra time. Heroes four years ago but sent home in disgrace prior to their cru- Guillermo Ochoa (MEX) declares “tonight I am Argentinian.” Akila sits with a group of around 10 cial group game with Portugal in these finals. Muntari, a renowned Arrived at the finals without a club having left relegat- “Football runs through my veins and young men, with a table of nuts and badboy with previous form, physically attacked a Ghanaian federation ed French championship side Ajaccio but he departed official while Boateng verbally abused coach Kwesi Appiah. “If you having done his future employment prospects the world tonight I want victory,” he says, as the other snacks laid out in front of them. want to build a team and instil discipline it’s always important that you of good. Mop haired headband wearing surfer look younger generation cheers on with “If it weren’t for the war we’d have set things right so that it doesn’t affect the team in the future,” Appiah maybe bedazzled some of his opponents but his star- their parents in Spanish. “Tonight we’re gone to watch at a cafe by the sea. said after Portugal beat them 2-1 to send them home. tling performances in the 0-0 draw with Brazil and in the not thinking about rockets, we’re par- “But we know Israel is bombing last 16 game with the Netherlands amongst others will tying,” 23-year-old Gilad says excitedly, everywhere, like what happened in Benoit Assou-Ekotto (CMR) surely see him snapped up soon. sporting an Argentine football shirt. Khan Yunis,” he says, referring to an air His headbutting of his Cameroon team-mate Benjamin Moukandjo “It was incredible (one save he made from Neymar in A short distance away, air strikes strike on a beachfront cafe that killed towards the end of the 4-0 drubbing by Croatia summed up in the the Brazil game). Maybe people don’t know him very well worst possible way the depths to which the once proud ‘Indomitable because he was playing in a little club, but for those who light up the sky in Gaza as Israel pum- nine people watching the Argentina- Lions’ had plummeted to. Volker Finke described the defender’s behav- work with him every day, it really wasn’t a surprise,” said mels the Strip for a seventh straight Netherlands semi-final on Tuesday. iour as ‘disgusting’. The 30-year-old later explained his gesture was centre-back Hector Moreno. day in an operation to stamp out rock- Fadi Zayd, 36, a resident of Beit borne out of frustration at Moukandjo failing to heed his advice to pass et fire. Lahiya in northern Gaza, says he is to him both in the first game against Mexico and then the Croatian Cesare Prandelli (ITA) Militants have fired hundreds of ignoring Israeli warnings to locals in match. “When I told him again (to pass to me), he replied: ‘Get off my He has always set different standards as a man and a rockets into Israel, including as far as the north of the Strip that if they don’t back!’ I could not accept his reaction. There was so much frustration in coach, stepping down from a top role when his wife Tel Aviv, setting off air raid sirens in evacuate their homes they risk becom- that match,” Assou-Ekotto told L’Equipe. became seriously ill-she later died-and penalising his play- ers if they misbehaved off the pitch as well as on it. Thus he Israeli towns, but the rocket fire has ing victims of intensive air raids there. HEROES didn’t hesitate once Italy failed to go through to the sec- caused no deaths. “We’re used to living “I couldn’t not watch the World Cup Mario Goetze ond round to accept the blame and resign announcing it under the threat from rockets,” says final!” he declared over the phone. “I’m His talent and good looks make him the envy of many but he will in the post match press conference. “I take all responsibili- Chacho, more interested right now in going to watch the match at my house forever be a hero in Germany after his stunning volley secured them ty for our failure. It’s useless for me to sit here and say I the match than the conflict. even though the Israelis ordered us to their fourth World Cup title and first since the two Germany’s were could have done it differently. This is why I’m resigning,” “It’s a tragedy, what is happening in leave our houses. Our fate is in God’s unified. The 22-year-old equates being a footballer to a boxer and on said the 56-year-old. — AFP Gaza, but tonight we don’t want to hands,” said the father of six. —AFP