Germany won against Argentina in 2014 FIFA World Cup Final and they proved to the world that Germany could win the World Cup 4th time.
Germany played with 4-2-3-1 formation in the match and when they were in the set defense, Kroos came to offensive midfielder position and they transformed to 4-1-4-1 line up.
Argentina played with 4-2-3-1 and when they were in the set defense wingers approached to midfielders and closed midfield area. 1 player closed between midfield and defense line (usually Mascherano) and other 3 men closed centre midfield area. If Kroos or Schweinsteiger approached to defense to take the ball, 1 player came to cover him. It doesn’t matter which players go where, the important point is that the center of the midfield and the defender line are blocked.
First half Germany had the ball and when they lost the ball and Argentina wanted to have the ball and keep, it was not big problem for Germany because Argentina’s plan was to wait behind and seize the counter attack opportunities. So, they didn’t think to make game. Also, they could do high pressing against Argentina and Argentina’s defense line couldn’t be comfortable for make game.
But Argentina could find great score goal opportunities because Messi and Higuain waited in the forward line and in the counter attacks they could have enough space against Germany’s slow defense line.
Kroos and Schweinsteiger could take the ball easily because Messi played in the Higuain’s back and Messi didn’t care about defending and so Kroos and Schweinsteiger could pass with their teammates comfortably.
But Germany couldn’t find goal opportunities because Argentina’s defense was very good and they did not have players with good dribbling skills. So, they could pass the ball very much but in the end they should have done some different things but they couldn’t do.
Kramer was injured in the first half and Schürrle substituted him in the 32nd minute. He played in the left winger position and Özil shifted with Klose’s behind. This substitute gave them more dribbling ability but it was not enough to score goal in the first half.
Löw should have changed some things and I think he should have used more full backs (especially Lahm) and wings. And Özil should have been closer to wings. Because if Lahm comes to right wing and Özil is close to right wing, they have 3 players in the right wing with Müller against Rojo and Perez. And they can have enough space because now they are numerically superior with 3 vs. 2.
Before the second half Sabella changed Lavezzi with Agüero and formation transformed to 4-3-1-2. So, in the second half, they could take Kroos and Schweinsteiger under control. They took into Kroos and Schweinsteiger in 6 players. But this change brought some disadvantages. Germany could find more space in the between defense and midfield lines.
In the second half, Kroos and Schweinsteiger came to wings to take the ball and Özil approached to wings. And they could find great goal opportunities.
In this position, Schürrle pulled Zabaleta and Kroos ran to the free space in the left wing.
In this position, Biglia came to cover Lahm and Schweinsteiger ran his behind.
In this position, Özil came to left wing to take the ball. Mascherano could cover him but when Mascherano came to wing, midfield had extra free space for Germany’s players.
Also, Argentina could find great counter attacks because they had 3 players in the forward line and when they took the ball, they could have great advantage against Germany’s defense line.
Second half was too unbalancing. Argentina had 3 forward players and their counter attacks were so dangerous but they had 3 midfielders and they couldn’t close our defense line like first half so Germany’s players found enough space to create goal chances. Germany’s set attack was better than first half but they couldn’t take the ball easily because they lost their energy. So, they had to give the ball and when they were in the set defense, they couldn’t defend well between midfield and defense line because they hadn’t natural defensive midfielder. Schweinsteiger’s role was to control that space but his defensive abilities are not enough good for play this role.
In this position , Germany lost the ball and Schweinsteiger must have covered Palacio. But he couldn’t and Palacio found space for dribbling.
In the extra time, game had balance and game was going to the penalties but Götze and Schürrle didn’t think that. In the goal you can see Götze’s role was very important and it’s not Löw’s direct tactics’ or great abilities’ result. It was really “brain goal”.
Schürrle closed to our defense line to take the ball and Götze used left wing because Schürrle was not in the left wing so left wing was free. And when Schürrle took the ball, Götze ran to the penalty area and pulled Zabaleta the penalty area. Schürrle saw free space in the left wing and ran to the left wing. Zabaleta understood his mistake and ran to close Schürrle but when he ran to left wing, Götze had free space in the penalty area. Schürrle saw Götze and passed, then Götze scored goal and Germany won the World Cup.
Argentina played very well and they created great goal opportunities but it’s football and you do everything to score goal but sometimes you haven’t luck.