2014 FIFA World Cup

Football is a team game and the best team of the tournament, Germany which was, proved this conventional wisdom right in a grand style.
They are the World Champions now having pipped Argentina 1–0 in the extra time of the final of 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Mercurial Holland finished 3rd by thumping dilapidated host Brazil by 3-0 in the play-off.

Key Points

The only goal-scorer of the final 'Mario Goetze' becomes the only substitute to have ever scored the World Cup decider.

Germans, now the 4-time champion, also becomes the first European team to win a World Cup in the Americas, South or North.

Brazil let in a whopping 14 goals - the most ever by a host nation in history of FIFA World Cup.

Never before, the teams from the same continent (Europe in this sense) had won three successive editions; Italy in 2006 and Spain in 2010.

Co-Incidents

Brazil had won its 4th world Cup in 1994 - 24 years after its 3rd in 1970.

Italy repeated the feat in 2006 (3rd being 24 years ago in 1982).

Then how Germany, as competitive that they are, be behind... clinching their 4th after exactly the same timespan of 24 years (2014-1990).

Awards

Top Goal-scorer : James Rodriguez (Colombia) with 6 goals

He wins Golden Boot award for it

Golden Ball award: Lionel Messi (Argentina)

It is given to the best player, voted by the media, of the tournament

Golden Glove award: Manuel Neuer (Germany) 

This is conferred on the best goalkeeper of the tournament

Best Young Player award: Paul Pogba (France) 

It recognize the young (under 21) talent of the competition

Fair Play Trophy: Colombia

Only teams that qualified for the second round are considered.

All the winners and runners-up since inception

1930: Uruguay 4–2 Argentina

1934: Italy 2–1 Czechoslovakia

1938: Italy    4–2 Hungary    

1950: Uruguay 2-1 Brazil    

1954: West Germany 3–2 Hungary    

1958: Brazil 5–2 Sweden    

1962: Brazil 3–1 Czechoslovakia    

1966: England 4–2 West Germany    

1970: Brazil 4–1 Italy    

1974: West Germany 2–1 Netherlands    

1978: Argentina 3–1 Netherlands    

1982: Italy  3–1 West Germany    

1986: Argentina 3–2 West Germany    

1990: West Germany 1–0 Argentina    

1994: Brazil won 3-2 on penalty after a 0–0 draw with Italy

1998: France 3–0 Brazil    

2002: Brazil 2–0 Germany    

2006: Italy     won 5-3 on penalty after a 1–1 draw with France

2010: Spain 1–0 Netherlands    

2014: Germany 1–0 Argentina