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After 112 minutes of tense, scoreless play in the World Cup final where Argentina looked almost certain to be first to score, Germany substitute Mario Goetze made himself an extra-time hero with a brilliant volley to put his side up 1-0.

With the match looking like it was headed to penalties after both sides proved unable finish several golden chances, Goetze found space between the Argentine defenders, controlled a cross with his chest and fired a volley past the goalkeeper at an angle for the goal.

Goetze, who previously scored in Germany's 2-2 draw against Ghana in the group stage, entered the match in the 88th minute for the World Cup's all-time leading scorer Miroslav Klose. And the goal from the 22-year-old Bayern Munich midfielder proved to be the difference, giving Germany its fourth World Cup title and first as a unified nation.