Chile 0-1 Germany
And that’s why they are the world champions!
They may have left key players at home, they may have gone long spells without the ball in both the semi-final and final, but they so often find a way to win football games, even when they don’t play well.
For that’s one of the most telling characteristics about Germany, whose roll call of honour now includes a maiden Confederations Cup – and this was their supposed B team!
Now back on top of the world rankings, few sports betting fans would sensibly bet against them.
Chile dominated long spells of this game, and so they should.
After all, their squad was considerably more experienced than the Germans.
Yet here in St Petersburg, Joachim Low’s side had that winning mentality, that physical edge, that sureness in their belief they could prevail, that they could capitalise on any opponents’ weakness.
And with this young squad proving their worth, just three days after the country was crowned European under-21 champions, the conveyor belt of German talent shows no signs of abating.
Neither does the controversy surrounding the VAR (video assistant referee) system.
If the authorities should take one thing from this tournament, it’s that it hasn’t worked and is in danger of embarrassing the game we love.
That Gonzalo Jara was only booked for a blatant elbow to the face of Timo Werner midway through the second half was proof of that.
The goal that mattered came after 20 minutes and was Lars Stindl’s third of the tournament.
Marcelo Diaz was careless on the edge of the box and Werner tapped it across to Stindl who just had to roll the ball into an empty net.
Although his second in 10 days against the Chileans actually made Stindl joint top scorer in the Confederations Cup, Werner claimed the golden boot by virtue of being the leading marksman with the most assists.
In what became a feisty and tetchy encounter at times, Chile continued to probe and there is no doubting their talent.
But emotionally they seemed to lack some of the inner strength of the Germans.
Low’s squad may have been the youngest in the Confederations Cup, with an average age of just over 24, but they have proven youth is no obstacle to success.
Until next summer, it’s Auf Wiedersehen to Russia!
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