World Cup final 2014: Live updates on Argentina vs. Germany

Los Angeles Times staff follow the championship match of the World Cup.

by adrianaa via twitter 7/13/2014 5:04:10 PM

I'm so excited for the game. I want Argentina to win but what I want more is to watch a good game! ⚽️ #ARG #WorldCupFinal
by the1sahil via twitter 7/13/2014 5:04:16 PM

Tonite I'm supporting football, may the best team win #WorldCupFinal
by Repent11 via twitter 7/13/2014 5:04:28 PM

#Germany will beat Argentina 2-1. #FreeAJ3 #FreeAJStaff #WorldCup2014 #WorldCupFinal
by shahd via twitter 7/13/2014 5:04:40 PM

Go #Germany #WorldCupFinal 🇩🇪 http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BscIRfuCUAA-7Tl.jpg
by Thaisa via twitter 7/13/2014 5:05:02 PM

Wow today's the day. #WorldCupFinal #letsgogermany
by Kevin Baxter via twitter 7/13/2014 5:23:39 PM

World Cup closing ceremonies are underway http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BscM1ZtIcAAi8GD.jpg
by Ruben Vives via twitter 7/13/2014 5:35:39 PM

Dear #ARG I like your empanadas, but I'm in the mood for bratwurst today. Go #GER #WorldCupFinal #ARGER
by Kevin Baxter via twitter 7/13/2014 5:50:50 PM

Closing stats from World Cup:
* 2,500 media credentialed for final
* Estimated attendance of 3,428,873 is 2nd highest ever, after US in 94
by Kevin Baxter via twitter 7/13/2014 5:51:47 PM

With two goals today, this World Cup will also feature the most goals ever scored. France 1998, with 171, is the current record-holder
7/13/2014 5:52:17 PM Amy.Hubbard

Dancers perform during the closing ceremony prior to the 2014 FIFA World Cup final match between Germany and Argentina at Maracana stadium in Rio.
(Julian Finney/Getty Images)
by Kevin Baxter via twitter 7/13/2014 5:54:14 PM

Messi's face on scoreboard during a PSA gets huge reaction from the mostly Argentina crowd at Maracana Hard to say how many Germans are here
7/13/2014 5:55:05 PM Amy.Hubbard

Soccer fans gather at Rio's Copacabana beach to watch the final on big screen. (Target Presse Agentur Gmbh/Bongarts/Getty Images)
by Kevin Baxter via twitter 7/13/2014 6:02:30 PM

Lineup for #GER : Neuer; Lahm, Hummels, Boateng, Howedes; Khedira, Schweinsteiger; Ozil, Kroos, Mueller; Klose.
by michael whitley via twitter 7/13/2014 6:03:31 PM

With a goal today, Müller would be the first player to win the golden boot twice. Messi needs 3 goals or 2 and 2 assists to have a chance.
by Kevin Baxter via twitter 7/13/2014 6:04:06 PM

#ARG Romero, Garay, Zabaleta, Biglia, Perez, Higuain, Messi, Mascherano, Demichelis, Rojo, Lavezz No Di Maria. That's a problem
7/13/2014 6:12:19 PM Amy.Hubbard

Closing ceremony performance before the World Cup final kicks off. (Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
7/13/2014 6:14:14 PM Amy.Hubbard

Shakira performs. (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
7/13/2014 6:17:59 PM Amy.Hubbard

Look who's here. Vladimir Putin is among the World Cup crowd. He attended to take part in a handover ceremony. Russia will host the 2018 World Cup.
(Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
7/13/2014 6:20:52 PM Amy.Hubbard

Security at the World Cup. Hundreds of police officers gathered outside the stadium prior to the start of the match. (Victor R. Caivano/Associated Press)
7/13/2014 6:24:04 PM Amy.Hubbard

Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen get a load of the World Cup crowd.
(Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
by Mike Tierney via twitter 7/13/2014 6:27:46 PM

Sing it, Germany: We are fam-a-lee. #worldcup . latimes.com/sports/soccer/…
by Mike Tierney via twitter 7/13/2014 6:29:12 PM

LeBron and Lionel, at couple of guys at the Cup finals, share common ground. #worldcup . latimes.com/sports/soccer/…
by Mike Tierney via twitter 7/13/2014 6:31:43 PM

Germany's to-do list for winning the Cup is more than this: 1. Show up before kickoff. #worldcup . latimes.com/sports/soccer/…
by Sai Agarwal via twitter 7/13/2014 6:33:02 PM

Pele spotted with Beckham and Kaka in the stands! #WorldCupFinal #GERvsARG
by Mike Tierney via twitter 7/13/2014 6:34:15 PM

Argentina: It's time to attack, throw Germany off track. @worldcup . latimes.com/sports/soccer/…
7/13/2014 6:35:36 PM Amy.Hubbard

Legends in the stands: Pele and David Beckham chat before final.
(Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
by prayag_sonar via twitter 7/13/2014 6:42:46 PM

Most of the people don't know football but support Argentina because they know only Messi.:-P
#GermanyVSBrazil #WorldCupFinal
by Julia via twitter 7/13/2014 6:42:48 PM

Rooting for Germany #WorldCupFinal
by FifaWorldCup via twitter 7/13/2014 6:44:10 PM

PHOTOS: There's a few famous faces in the Maracana for the #WorldCup Final! #GERARG #joinin - fifa.to/1riFcRi http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BsceH1kCMAAYcMZ.jpg
by FifaWorldCup via twitter 7/13/2014 6:44:31 PM

#GERARG: Here are your Final 22 #WorldCup players in all their glory. Not long to go #joinin - fifa.to/1riFcRi http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BscamPPCQAAe79P.jpg
7/13/2014 6:50:02 PM Amy.Hubbard

According to FIFA.com:
"No team has as much experience of penalty shoot-outs in the competition
as Argentina, who have been involved in five and won four of them,
losing only once to none other than Germany in 2006. Die Nationalelf themselves have a 100 per cent winning record in the four spot-kick duels they have contested."
7/13/2014 6:53:58 PM Amy.Hubbard

From the L.A. Times' Kevin Baxter, on location in Brazil:
Brazil has been flooded by Argentines, who have streamed across the
border for today's World Cup final between Lionel Messi's Argentina and
Germany.
Some estimates of the number who have come range as high as 100,000.
That may be conservative.
Organizers say just 4,461 tickets for the final were sold in Argentina, which means a lot of the visitors are in Rio just to be close to their country's first appearance in a World Cup final in 24 years.
Most are sleeping in cars parked in parks or other public places and thousands are expected to watch the game at the beachfront fan fest. With Brazil having been eliminated in the tournament semifinals, the fact that Brazil's rivals to the south are playing for the title hasn't sat well with many locals.
7/13/2014 6:55:36 PM Amy.Hubbard

National anthems now being sung in Maracana Stadium.
by Borussia Dortmund via twitter 7/13/2014 6:57:56 PM

Daumen drücken - im Trikot von Erik Durm ;-) // Fingers crossed - @bastifuenf wearing Erik Durm's shirt! #GER http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BschwCMIcAAj4_P.jpg
by Kevin Baxter via twitter 7/13/2014 6:58:00 PM

The teams are on the field before a packed Maracana http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BscibVoIEAEfBYh.jpg
by FifaWorldCup via twitter 7/13/2014 6:59:06 PM

#GER make a late change, with Christoph Kramer coming in for Sami Khedira #GERARG #WorldCup - fifa.to/1riFcRi http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BschgkVCMAAs__Z.jpg
by Kevin Baxter via twitter 7/13/2014 7:00:50 PM

Sami Khedira a last-minute scratch for Germany with a calf issue. Christoph Kramer starts in his place
by michael whitley via twitter 7/13/2014 7:10:55 PM

Khadera out with a calf injury for Germany, replaced by Kramer. Khadera had a brilliant game against Brazil - massive boots to fill.
7/13/2014 7:12:50 PM me

arg better win
by Germany via twitter 7/13/2014 7:13:34 PM

Decent opening 5 minutes for #GER. Neither goalkeeper tested as of yet though. 6' #GERARG
by Germany via twitter 7/13/2014 7:15:14 PM

Superb teasing cross from Philipp #Lahm but Demichelis just does enough to put off Miro #Klose who can't connect with his head. 14' #GERARG
7/13/2014 7:19:59 PM Amy.Hubbard

Germany's Miroslav Klose (L) and Argentina's Martin Demichelis (R) vie for the ball. (Diego Azubel / EPA)
by Argentina Football via twitter 7/13/2014 7:21:26 PM

What a miss by Higuain.!.....simply unbelievable
by Germany via twitter 7/13/2014 7:21:56 PM

First real chance of the game goes to #ARG . A header back to #Neuer falls for #Higuain ...fortunately he pulls his shot wide. 22' #GERARG
7/13/2014 7:23:23 PM Amy.Hubbard

Missed it by this much. (Hassan Ammar/AP)