Germany have won the 2014 FIFA World Cup in tense manner over Argentina at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium, courtesy of a Mario Götze goal seven minutes to the end of extra-time.

The win is the first time a European nation has won the World Cup on South American soil, the fourth time Germany will be crowned world champions and their first title since beating Argentina by a lone goal as well in the final of the 1990 World Cup when known as West Germany.

The match was a close encounter that saw Germany dominate possession but Argentina create more of the clear-cut chances, with striker Gonzalo Higuaín particularly set to rue his missed chance midway through the first half.

A poor back header from midfield by Toni Kroos went beyond Mats Hummels and onto the path of Higuaín who only had Manuel Neuer to beat, only to shoot his effort wide of goal.

Higuaín would find the back of the net just before the half-hour mark after slotting in low off an inch perfect cross from Ezequiel Lavezzi, but the Argentine striker had been correctly flagged offside thus the goal was ruled out.

Andre Schürrle then came on for Christoph Kramer – who was given a surprise start – soon after and came close to breaking the deadlock minutes after with a first-time shot that but was denied by Sergio Romero.

Argentina would come close at the other end in the 40th minute when captain Lionel Messi made his way into the Germany area and hit the ball past an onrushing Neuer only for Jerome Boateng to get to the ball ahead of an Argentine player and clear the danger.

But it was Germany that finished the first half strong, as Kroos shot straight at Romero after being teed up by Mesut Özil before Benedikt Howedes headed a Kroos cross against the post in first half stoppage time.

Messi shot just wide of Neuer’s goal two minutes into the second half, Kroos dragged a shot wide at the other end as well on the hour mark while Özil was a step ahead of the ball after being found in the area by a good Schürrle cross in 10 minutes to the end of normal time.

Götze then squandered a chance for Germany to win it deep into stoppage time, choosing to shoot a tame effort straight at Romero from 30 yards out when passing to Schürrle who had made a run ahead of him seemed a better option.

The first period of extra-time saw both sides tread carefully, with substitute Rodrigo Palacio coming closest to breaking the deadlock in the 97th minute only to send a lobbed effort over Neuer and wide of goal.

With penalties looming, the defining moment finally came seven minutes to the end when Götze controlled a Schürrle ball in with his chest and volleyed home the match winner.

The goal was the 171st goal scored at this year’s World Cup, equalling the record tally for most number of goals scored in a World Cup which was first set at the 1998 World Cup in France.

Götze’s winner was a slightly deserved ending for the victorious Germans over a valiant Argentine side whose captain, Messi was named winner of the Golden Ball award for best player of the World Cup while James Rodriguez won the Golden Boot award and Neuer won the Golden Glove award.