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
Argentina at the FIFA World Cup <section begin=Lineups /> Argentina has played a total of 81 FIFA World Cup games through 17 tournaments facing 36 rivals. Games that went on penalty kicks are shown as drawn. Teams in bold denote world cup winners, teams in "italics" show teams which played it first match ever in a World Cup against Argentina.<br> Teams with a * mark no longer exist. East Germany was annexed to Germany. Soviet Union now plays as Russia.<br> +Played as Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro. Through Argentinian team history, several coaches had trained it with different football styles from offensive to defensive tactics. There