Being the first European team in the world to win the World Cup across the Atlantic, is just one more feather ... Read More

RIO DE JANEIRO: The only occasion that hidden German pride burst out of Joachim Loew was at the post-match press conference on Sunday, that too, for a moment.

Full Coverage: World Cup 2014

"I told Mario (Goetze), go out and show the world you are better than Lionel Messi . I had a good feeling about him. Goetze is a miracle boy with superb technical qualities."

And the man of the moment, Goetze, who spent just 32 minutes on the pitch on Sunday to decide the match with a slice of brilliance, said, "It is an unbelievable feeling. I don't know how to describe it: you just shoot, score and then you don't know what is happening. A dream became a reality because it is a dream come true. I am more than happy ­ very proud of the team and of what happened here in Brazil. It is absolutely sensational."

And so was Loew's uncanny instinct. Throughout the Cup in Brazil, his gut feeling guided Loew on the path to glory. The two substitutions he made, Andre Schuerlle and Goetze, combined to create and score the winning goal at the historic Maracana. It was the culmination of 10 years of hard work.

"We have been together for 55 days and this (the World Cup victory) has been the result of 10 years. It all started with (Juergen) Klinsmann and we have made constant progress. We believed in the project and we believed in playing attractive football. We have showed the best performances in the seven matches here," Loew said.

Being the first European team in the world to win the World Cup across the Atlantic, is just one more feather in the crown and Loew acknowledged that.

They have built on a legacy and are harvesting the rewards of investing in the youth programme which was started after their exit in the first round of the 2004 European championships.

Not afraid to pick out individuals even though hailing team spirit as paramount, Loew talked about Bastian Schweinsteiger and Phillip Lahm in particular. The former had a stupendous game and came back stronger after stitches under his right eye after an Argentinian elbow left him bleeding. The German midfield general wore the wound as a badge of courage.

"This deep joy and happiness will last forever. The players gave all they had, led by a marvellous Schweinsteiger in the midfield and Lahm who ran up and down a number of kilometres."

Loew observed that he knew that he would need all the players in the contingent to be ready, "not just 11". In the higher temperatures of Brazil as compared to Europe, one can't play at the same tempo for 90 or 120 minutes.

"You must have noticed how Argentina got tired as the match wore on and in extra-time it was obvious. Mueller and Schuerlle can really run deep and thus Goetze was introduced to give the final push," the German coach said.

After the semifinal, Loew saved a few commiserating words for Brazil. On the last day of the World Cup, a truly memorable one for Germany, Loew did an encore.

"We are overwhelmed with the love and sympathy we have got in this beautiful country. Even after we beat Brazil in the semifinal, people at the airport and on our way back to our hotel, applauded us. It was unbelievably impressive. Before coming here, I told the team we represent 80 million German people and we must convey to the world that we are enjoying our work. I hope we have been successful in doing so. Thank you, Brazil!"