RIO DE JANEIRO: World Cup match-winner Mario Gotze babbled into ecstatic superlatives as he tried to find the words to express the emotions of the night writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

The Bayern Munich 22-year-old had entered the Final in the 87th minute as substitute for cup record-holder Miroslav Klose and, within another halfhour, had written himself, too, into tournament history.

Midway through the second half of extra time Gotze dashed through the inside left position where he chested down a short cross from Andre Schurrle and then lashed an angled volley beyond Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero for the lone, winning goal.

Trying to recall the moment, Gotze said: “It’s an unbelievable feeling. I don’t know how to describe what happened. You just shoot, you don’t really know what’s happening. It’s indescribable. A dream become reality. A dream came true for us and I’m proud of the team and what happened here in Brazil. It is absolutely sensational.”

Gotze, for all his acknowledged talent and potential, was an original starter in the tournament for Germany but was dropped at half-time in the second round struggle to beat Algeria. He then played only the last few minutes against France and did not feature at all against Brazil.

Hence his place on the bench at the start of the Final.

Gotze said: “It wasn’t a simple tournament for me and I owe very much to my family, my girlfriend and my friends who always believed in me which was very important.

“Now I am simply happy that the team, with me in it, were able to win this title. I think we all deserve this trophy.”

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