German fans celebrate the World Cup win at an outdoor screening near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. More than 300,000 fans thronged central Berlin for the World Cup final, turning an avenue behind the Brandenburg Gate into a sea of black, red and gold flags.
Agencies/Berlin, Buenos Aires
Jubilant Germans celebrated in the streets on Sunday night, lighting fireworks, embracing strangers, honking car horns and revelling in their first World Cup win in 24 years.
Roars of delight soared from Berlin's massive fan zone, stretching 1.3 kilometres from the Brandenburg Gate, where 300,000 fans had braved torrential downpours and thunderstorms to endure an agonising 113 goalless minutes before a Mario Goetze volley gave Germany a fourth World Cup crown.
"This is such an awesome feeling. I'm overwhelmed. The team kept us waiting for that goal, but we won in the end and that's what matters," said 23-year-old Marcus Angrick from Bernau, outside Berlin.
"This team is so good, we won't have to wait another 24 years to win again."
Thousands of fans streamed down West Berlin's famous Kurfuerstendamm, waving flags and umbrellas after watching Germany become the first European team to lift the World Cup on South American soil.
On neighbouring streets, cars revved loudly and honked horns, while girls in wigs with Germany colours and flags hung out of windows and rode on car roofs.
Others climbed lamp posts, toasting Germany's victory with beers and chanting, "Germany, Champions, Hallelujah!"
"1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014 - we fought hard for our fourth win and it was totally deserved. Congratulations," tweeted Angela Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert, referring to Germany's four World Cup titles. He had travelled with the chancellor to Rio de Janeiro for the final.
Crowds whooped with delight as they watched Merkel, nicknamed "Mutti" or 'mummy' in Germany, embrace each German player after the match.
"Yes, yes yes!!! Jogi you did it!! Huge compliment to Argentina but the best team won the 2014 World Cup!" tweeted US coach Juergen Klinsmann.
Klinsmann was Germany's manager during the 2006 World Cup, when current manager Joachim Loew, affectionately known as 'Jogi' in Germany, was his assistant.
In Buenos Aires, riot police fired tear gas and water cannon on Sunday to break up dozens of rock-hurling youths after Argentina’s hopes of a first World Cup win in 28 years were dashed by Germany in the final.
Parents clutching their children ran away from the iconic Obelisk monument where tens of thousands of people had gathered, as the rowdy youths taunted police officers and tried to kick down the metal grills on some shop fronts, television pictures showed.
At least 15 police officers were wounded and more than 50 people detained in the unrest that followed the 1-0 defeat, local media reported.
Germany forward Mario Goetze’s volley in extra-time stunned local fans into silence and after the final minutes ticked down, millions of disconsolate Argentines were left to contemplate a defeat that deprived them of a first World Cup win since 1986.
“It’s another slap in the face. There is no more joy, but we came out second and were not shamed in Brazil,” said 40-year-old Eduardo Manfredi.
The hopes of 40 million people had been heaped on the shoulders of the national side - in particular Lionel Messi, who picked up the ‘Golden Ball’ as top player of the tournament, and in-form goal keeper Sergio Romero.
Hours before the game started, fans in the soccer-obsessed capital streamed along the city’s boulevards blowing vuvuzela horns and banging drums, while some even dressed up their pampered pooches in soccer strips tailor-made for dogs.
The run to the 2014 final handed Argentines welcome respite from newspaper headlines dominated in recent weeks by a brewing debt crisis, surging inflation and political scandal.
