2014 FIFA World Cup Final best player (Lionel Messi) versus the world's best team (Germany). Before the match, Germany had reached the World Cup final seven times (six times as West Germany from 1954 to 1990), winning three (1954, 1974, 1990) and being runners-up four times (1966, 1982, 1986, 2002); Argentina had reached four finals, winning twice (1978, 1986) and placing second twice (1930, 1990). The result marked Germany's fourth World Cup title and their first World championship as a unified nation. The victory meant that three consecutive World Cups have been won by teams from the same continent, following Italy and Spain in 2006
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group C 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group C The 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification UEFA Group C was a UEFA qualifying group for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The group comprised Germany, Sweden, Republic of Ireland, Austria, Faroe Islands and Kazakhstan. The group winners, Germany, qualified directly for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Sweden placed among the eight best runners-up and advanced to the play-offs, where they were drawn to play home-and-away matches against Portugal. However, they lost both matches and thus failed to qualify for the World Cup. Germany went on to win the tournament, defeating Argentina in