Lifting the Trophy: Champions of the 2014 World Cup

Germany won the 2014 FIFA World Cup after defeating Argentina 1-0 in extra time at Estádio do Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro.

Mario Götze scored with less than seven minutes remaining to hand Germany their fourth FIFA World Cup title.

It was Germany's first title since reunification in 1990 when West Germany beat Argentina 1-0 in the final in Rome. 

Despite Argentina losing the final, Lionel Messi was awarded the 'Golden Ball' as the tournament's best player, an award he would win again in Qatar in 2022. 

SportsBoom looks back at one of the most riveting football World Cup tournaments of all time. 

Brazil 2014 Football World Cup: A Tournament of Upset Results

Brazil hosted the 20th edition of the FIFA Men's World Cup, the country's first tournament since 1950 and the first in South America since 1978. 

As ever, Brazil were favourites to lift the famous trophy for a sixth time, especially playing on home soil in front of their supporters. 

The Seleção Canarinha topped Group A with two convincing wins over Croatia and Cameroon, either side of a 0-0 draw with Mexico.

The 2014 World Cup was going well until star player Neymar Júnior got injured against Colombia in the quarter-final at Estádio Castelo in Fortaleza. 

Neymar had scored four goals in the group stages, and he scored the winning penalty in the Round of 16 shootout against Chile at Estádio Mineirão in Belo Horizonte. 

The hosts beat Colombia 2-1, thanks to Neymar’s assist for the first goal.

However, the nation went into mourning following the news that Neymar - arguably the player of the tournament - would miss the rest of the World Cup.

Neymar fractured a vertebra in his spine after being kneed in the back by Juan Camilo Zúñiga during the game. 

Following the outpouring of emotion that engulfed the country, Brazil's semi-final match against Germany was almost a religious experience.

But disaster struck when Germany thrashed Brazil 7-1 in the semi-final in one of the greatest upsets in sports history. 

The players and supporters, plagued by the grief of Neymar's absence, were left shellshocked - as was the rest of the world - after a chastening defeat to Germany in Belo Horizonte. 

The Seleção would never recover, finishing fourth overall after losing 3-0 to the Netherlands in the third-place playoff. 

Germany wins the 2014 Football World Cup in Brazil

Germany had one of the toughest World Cup groups, but they topped Group G with seven points after two wins and a draw.

The four-time World champions thrashed Ronaldo's Portugal 4-0 in their opening match at Casa de Apostas Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador.

They came from behind to draw 2-2 with Ghana in Fortaleza before edging the United States 1-0 in their last game at Arena Pernambuco in Recife.

Die Mannschaft’s “Road to the Final” was paved with booby traps, starting with African wild cards Algeria before playing France in the quarter-finals.

The Europeans proved their worth, dismantling Brazil in their backyard to reach an eighth football World Cup final. 

Germany then overcame the world's greatest-ever player in his prime, Messi, and a strong Argentina team in the final on South American soil.

Their victory completed one of the finest World Cup campaigns in history. 

Brazil 2014 World Cup: Germany's Road to the Final 

Joachim Löw's men defeated Algeria 2-1 after extra time in their Round of 16 contest at Estádio José Pinheiro Borda in Porto Alegre before edging France 1-0 in the quarter-final in Rio de Janeiro.

Löw's side would triumph 7-1 against hosts Brazil in the most astonishing match in football history. 

The semi-final would go down in infamy in Brazil, in harmony in Germany. Anticipation and excitement quickly turned to floods of tears and jeers as Germany turned on the style.

The game was all but over after 15 minutes when the third goal went in, but only after the fourth goal did the home supporters truly understand the magnitude of their side’s plight. 

Five-nil at the break, 7-0 after 90 minutes (it could have been 10-nil). Oscar netted a late goal, but it was scant consolation, only desolation.

An intense 1-0 final victory against Argentina at the Maracanã in Rio saw Germany crowned world champions for the first time in 24 years thanks to Götze's late half-volley.

Thomas Müller starred for Germany. He finished second in the “Golden Ball” voting and second in the “Golden Boot” behind James Rodríguez.

Rodríguez finished as the tournament's top scorer, with six goals and two assists. He was also awarded the FIFA Puskás Award for best goal of the year. 

Müller ended the successful competition with five goals, three assists, and the World Cup winners' medal.

Brazil 2014 was a Football World Cup of Shocks

The 2014 FIFA World Cup was full of surprises and upsets right from the outset. 

The group stage was notable for a scarcity of draws but many goals. 

The first drawn (and goalless) match did not occur until the 13th game of the tournament when Iran and Nigeria drew 0-0.

World Cup holders Spain were eliminated after only two games, the quickest exit for the defending champions since Italy in 1950.

Vicente del Bosque's side became the fourth nation to be eliminated in the first round of their title defence. 

Spain's exit in the group stage set the tone for a tournament of shock results. 

For the first time at the World Cup, two teams from Africa made it to the second round.

Algeria and Nigeria qualified out of their groups with four points after winning, losing, and drawing each of their three games. 

Italy and England, in the same group, also bowed out of the competition in abject failure.

The two teams combined for one win in six games in a group they were favourites to progress from. 

Spain was humiliated 5-1 in their opening match by Holland at Casa de Apostas Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador.

The game is remembered for Robin van Persie's stunning swan-diving header on the edge of the 18-yard area. 

Van Persie's goal was nominated for the FIFA Puskás Award for the “most beautiful” goal in 2014; however, he came third in the votes.

Golden Boot winner Rodríguez collected the Puskás Award thanks to his stunning Round of 16 Playoff goal against Uruguay at the Maracanã.

The playmaker's magnificent chest-and-volley from 25 yards out sent Colombia to their first-ever World Cup quarter-finals.   

La Furia Roja limped out of Brazil when they lost 2-0 to Chile in their second group game in Rio.

Italy's only win in South America was a 2-1 triumph in their opening match against England at Arena da Amazônia in Manaus.

The Italians never scored or won again during a forgettable World Cup, finishing third in Group D ahead of England. 

England crashed out with only one point after a drab 0-0 draw versus Costa Rica in their last game at Estádio Mineirão in Belo Horizonte. 

Brazil’s tournament came to a miserable end when Germany dispatched them by a record semi-final scoreline to send shockwaves around the world.