In the end, the Argentina vs. Germany 2014 World Cup final was decided in overtime, with the Germans winning 1-0 on a Mario Gotze goal. It was a predictable battle that held true for a majority of the game, with Germany the attacker, and Argentina looking to stifle, springing on Lionel Messi-orchestrated counterattacks. Highlights included many close calls for both teams, including several chances that each team will undoubtedly regret missing. For the third World Cup final in a row, and the sixth in history, it went to extra time, where the Germans emerged victorious for their fourth World Cup win.

In extra time, Germany continued to dominate, but Argentina found several chances, as Messi tried to engineer a miracle. Not until the second period of overtime did the goal finally come, when substitute Mario Gotze touched a cross to himself, before firing it far post past Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero. Here are the highlights, including Gotze’s goal.

The first chance of the game fell to Argentina’s Gonzalo Higuain, who somehow missed this excellent chance:

Higuain did finish this one, but it was offside: 

As can be seen on this photo, it was clearly offside from Higuain:

Germany, who dominated possession in the first half, created decent chances, but nothing from open play that was as spectacular as they had against Brazil over the first 45 minutes: 

Right at the end of the first half, Germany’s Benedikt Höwedes smashed a header against the post, and the score stayed at 0-0.

Right at the start of the second half, Germany nearly let Leo Messi put Argentina ahead, but the superstar continued the theme of missed opportunities, and once again, it remained 0-0.

One of the ultimate collisions of the World Cup happened when Higuain and Germany goalie Manuel Neuer went for a 50-50 ball. Higuain was remarkably called for a foul on this: 

Right near the end of regulation time, Miroslav Klose, the leading goal scorer in World Cup history, came off the field for the last time. It marks the end of a remarkable World Cup career.

At the start of overtime, Germany’s Howedes nearly scored again for Germany, but his shot was saved: 

Argentina tried to counterattack quick, but Germany closed out the move with two crunching tackles:

And Argentina forward Rodrigo Polacio, who came on as a substitute, couldn’t finish a fantastic gift: 

Bastian Schweinsteiger was the victim of the rare double tackle:

Schweinsteiger caught another bad exchange, taking an elbow that drew blood:

And in the second overtime period, Mario Gotze finally found the breakthrough goal for Germany, showing world class technique and finishing: