The DFB's major titles: Football World Cup 2014

The highlight of Jogi Löw’s career and an unforgettable 7-1 in the semi-final against hosts Brazil. 24 years after the last title, Germany can celebrate again: For the fourth time, the German national team wins the World Cup. And for the first time in South America.

After years of rebuilding under Jogi Löw, a world-class generation of top players has emerged in Germany. Germany plays its first group game in Brazil on 16 June against heavyweight Portugal and superstar Christiano Ronaldo. An unexpectedly high 4-0 win sees 3 goals by Thomas Müller, winner of the Golden Boot four years earlier in South Africa. A 2-2 draw against Ghana and a narrow 1-0 win over Jürgen Klinsmann’s USA team follow. A rather tame end to the group games following such a spectacular start.

Nail-biter in the last 16

In the round of 16 match, Germany surprisingly has to go to extra time. A narrow 2-1 win against supposed no-hopers Algeria is not up to Germany’s normal standards and is their weakest match at this World Cup. The highlights of the quarter-final match against France are a disciplined display by Germany and a string of top-class saves by Manuel Neuer. Mats Hummels scores the only goal of the day with a header and books Germany’s place in the semi-final.

Germany’s triumph and Brazil’s downfall

This is a game nobody will forget in a hurry. It is a pleasant 22 degrees on the evening of 8 July in Belo Horizonte as the two teams with the most World Cup appearances take to the field. Highly emotional hosts, who seem to be under enormous pressure of expectation from their fans even during the national anthem, and confident Germans who calmly go about their business. What happens next leaves even proven football experts speechless. The German team scores seven times, almost every shot is a goal. Müller, Klose, Khedira, and a brace each from Kroos and Schürrle, are the goalscorers for Germany. The reaction: While people in Germany celebrate wildly in the streets, the football nation of Brazil is in mourning after this shock.

Mario Götze’s dream goal wins the title

After this impressive victory, Germany is the clear favourite in the final against Argentina. The score remains goalless in regular time despite numerous chances on both sides. In the 88th minute, Jogi Löw brings on Mario Götze. This decision pays off in the 113th minute. The forward, then with Bayern Munich, controls the ball with his chest after a cross from André Schürrle and smashes it into the goal – a technically brilliant winning goal for a perfectly united German team. There is no better way to sum up this World Cup than the comment from England's Steven Gerrard: "Argentina has Messi, Brazil has Neymar, but Germany has a team"

(Text: Martin Sulkowsky)