International media praise German WC win

The day after Germany secured their fourth World Cup title with an extra-time victory over Argentina in Rio de Janeiro, the world's media acclaimed coach Joachim Loew and his players.

As expected the German press poured praise on Mario Goetze whose goal against Argentina earned them victory at Rio's Maracana stadium.

The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung's homepage boasted a picture of captain Philipp Lahm and Sami Khedira kissing the cup with the headline: "Goetze the redeemer - Germany are world champions."

"There you are, finally," the mass-selling tabloid Bild wrote on its homepage, which was fully covered with a picture of the golden trophy. "We are world champions," it added, with a picture showing Goetze celebrating his extra-time goal with teammate Thomas Mueller.

The football magazine Kicker wrote: "World champions! Goetze's wonder goal decides the nerve-racking thriller."

Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport said: "It was though Germany were from another world. A masterpiece from Loew and a super generation," while Tuttosport said: "Welcome to the club, dear Germany, now you have a fourth World Cup title too," referring to Italy already having won the World Cup four times.

La Nacion of Costa Rica was also quick to give credit to Loew, saying he "won the victory with stubbornness," referring to his tactical choices which did not always find favour back home. "His is the victory of perseverance, which carried an entire generation."

In the Netherlands, De Telegraaf pointed out that it was Goetze, not superstar Lionel Messi, who proved the decisive factor in Monday's (AEST) final.

"Mario stronger than Messi ... Super Mario!" it said, adding "Mario Goetze, almost the same size as the Mario character from Nintendo, clearly did more than Messi."

The Mexican paper El Universal also focussed on Goetze, describing his goal as "A perfect shot. Artwork ... the goal Mario Goetze has been dreaming of his whole life."

Sweden's Svenska Dagbladet summed up the prevailing mood for the tournament as a whole. "The correct team has won. Germany had the best team overall at the World Cup," it said.

It was a view shared by Danish newspaper Berlinskie: "Germany had by far the best team in the World Cup, the only team that could really entertain, because they can and not just because it was allowed (by others)."

The Kolkata from India was rare in easing the euphoria slightly, saying "Germany lifted the cup because Argentina missed golden chances."