Brazil 2014 (for me) was perhaps one of the greatest World Cup triumphs since 1998. Here you had a World Cup being played in a country that is so synonymous with Football and the beautiful game (Joga Bonito). I couldn't think of a better country to host a World Cup tournament than Brazil. Not only does the country boast some of the most beautiful scenery in the world from their sandy beaches to their mountainous views but they also hold the record of 5 World Cup wins. It's little wonder then that the intensity of the tournament was kicked up a notch by all 32 participating nations. Four and a half weeks of memorable, exciting and shocking moments were all laid bare for the world to see at Brazil 2014 from the shock exit of 2010 winners Spain, to the 7-1 demolition of hosts (and potential winners) Brazil at the hands of Germany. After over 4 weeks of entertaining football, the trophy eventually went to the much deserved hands of the German national team on July 13. The Germans, who have consistently boasted strong performances at the past 4 consecutive World Cup tournaments, finished this tournament with a for and against of 18-4, which is now the joint highest for and against margin for any World Cup winner (the other record holder being Brazil at 2002). Germany's World Cup win this year is hardly surprising as they've clearly been the sleeping giant of football for the last decade.
The wheels of Die Mannschaft's success were put in motion ten years ago with the appointment of then FK Austrian Wien coach Joachim Löw as Germany's assistant manager. The head coach at the time was former German superstar Jurgen Klinsmann and, while it was Klinsmann who was manager of the team, it was evident Löw was the mastermind behind the team's tactics. This was evident at the 2006 World Cup when almost every image of the German touchline showed Löw dictating tactics to his players on the pitch. That World Cup (2006) saw Germany pick up a Bronze medal on home soil after emphatically beating Portugal 3-1 in the Bronze medal match. Since then, Germany have produced nothing less than a Semi final finish at a major international tournament. Whilst they exited the Euro 2012 tournament at the Semi final stage, thanks to a disappointing 2-1 loss to Italy, the two years which followed that match proved to be the awakening of the German national team. After a 24 year wait, Germany now have their hands on football's richest prize; The FIFA World Cup. The 24 year itch is something the German public were really feeling heading in to Brazil 2014. Countries like Brazil and Italy also had a 24 year gap between World Cup wins; Brazil being from 1970 to 1994 and Italy from 1982 to 2006. The 24 year itch was also embedded in to the psyche of many Germans in the lead up to this World Cup and the expectations of a World Cup win became enormous. After some stellar performances and tactically flawless football, there could be no doubt Germany were the deserved winners of the 2014 World Cup. Many pundits, football fans and Germans have been waiting for and expecting this day, and now it's finally here. Well done Germany.
Written by Alex Stilianos.
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