Last week, the World Cup began which is, as you might expect, quite a big deal – not just in soccer terms, but for sports fans around the world as well.
The excitement began to build as soon as fixtures were announced and the action got started on the pitch. Naturally, many bettors got interested and began to place bets for the biggest match of the tournament: Germany versus Argentina. Let’s take a look at how the spread for this particular match played out.
Argentina Won The Spread
Argentina is one of the traditional soccer powerhouses and the World Cup favorites, having won the tournament the last two years running. They are known for their potent attack led by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo (CR7), and a well-organized defense. These traits served them well in the early going of the tournament as they had the first four points on the slate before any other team had even kicked off the tournament.
It was Germany who had to settle for the bronze as they were held to a 2-2 draw by the Netherlands. This was somewhat of a surprise result as the Germans had been overwhelming pre-tournament favorites. It was only fitting that the winner of this particular contest decided the match, as it was a truly memorable game that showcased the best attacking soccer of the tournament.
Early Injuries Could Hinder Germany’s Run Towards The Title
The excitement of the World Cup continued as fans eagerly awaited the fixtures that would decide the tournament champion. The suspense increased as the tournament wore on and more and more injuries began to take their toll. As it is in any sport, injuries are a part of the game and can’t be completely avoided. There were several injuries to key players for Germany going into the game against Argentina. Whether these injuries were a blessing in disguise is a matter of opinion.
It was the injury to Mario Götze that really hurt Germany’s chances of winning. The München native was one of the game’s most lethal attackers and he helped Germany put three past the traditionally strong Argentine defense. Without Götze, it’s likely that Germany would’ve had to leave something out of their bag of tricks and played it safe, limiting themselves to short, safe balls and hoping for the best. With Götze, they got adventurous – as we’ve come to expect from the German national team – and that’s what won them the game.
Full Time: How Did The Match End?
The match didn’t end in a full-blown riot, but there was plenty of drama in the last 10 minutes. Argentina had a golden opportunity to kick things off and end the tension following a long, nerve-wracking 90 minutes. They got the opening kick and quickly sent the ball into the back of the net. The goal was ruled out for offside, but replays showed that the opposition goalkeeper had made a foul, denying Argentina the goal.
The ref then showed Argentinians a second attempt at an equalizer and, with less than 10 minutes left, they finally scored the equalizer and forced extra time. This is when the game truly turned nasty as tempers began to flare and punches were thrown. The ref eventually decided that the game would go to a penalty shootout and, after a flurry of misses by both teams, he called for a quick-fire series to determine the champion.
It wasn’t too long before the first Argentinian miss as he blasted his kick high and wide. The German keeper made the save and stepped up confidently to take the second kick. The momentum shifted and the Germans began to attack quickly, rattling off three consecutive goals to claim the World Cup title.
To end on a high note, let’s not forget about the German fans as they celebrated their country’s fourth international title with gusto. This was followed by a passionate Argentina fan as he too rejoiced in his team’s victory.
Congratulations to both sides for an exciting tournament!