Well, that's a wrap. One of the greatest World Cups has ended in glory for the mighty Germans. The Otago Daily Times looks back on an extraordinary month in Brazil.
Hayden Meikle
Sports editor
Happy the Germans won?: Yes. It's always nice when the best team wins. And when you are the only ODT panellist to tip the winner.
Player of the tournament: Thomas Mueller (Germany).
Honorable mentions: James Rodriguez (Colombia), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Ron Vlaar (Netherlands).
Best game: Germany's 7-1 shellacking of Brazil, for its sheer bizarreness.
Best goal: Tim Cahill's strike against the Netherlands. Utterly brilliant.
Steve Hepburn
Rugby writer
Happy the Germans won?: Not really. But they were the best team, and more importantly, they played as a team.
Player of the tournament: Philipp Lahm (Germany).
Honorable mentions: James Rodriguez (Colombia), Neymar (Brazil), Alexis Sanchez (Chile).
Best game: Ghana-Germany. A draw where both sides looked to win and created chances right through to the end.
Best goal: The winner in the final. It won the World Cup, so cannot go past that.
Sean Flaherty
Head of news
Happy the Germans won?: No. Although they consistently played the best football.
Player of the tournament: Javier Mascherano (Argentina).
Honorable mentions: James Rodriguez (Colombia, possessed by genius), David Luiz (Brazil, comedy gold), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany's brains and heart).
Best game: Netherlands v Spain. High-scoring deconstruction of tiki-taka set the tone for tournament.
Best goal: Goetze's boy's own fantasy finish in the final.
Matthew Holdridge
FootballSouth chairman
Happy the Germans won?: Yes. Argentina might have Messi, Brazil Neymar and Uruguay Suarez, but Germany has a team, and the best team always wins.
Player of the tournament: Javier Mascherano (Argentina).
Honorable mentions: James Rodriguez (Colombia), Toni Kroos (Germany), Ron Vlaar (Netherlands), Manuel Neuer (Germany).
Best game: USA v Portugal 2-2. Never give up!
Best goal: Germany's sixth goal against Brazil. Superb passing and movement finished by a late run from Andre Schuerrle summed up Germany's game - clinical.
