Mario Goetze scored a superb extra-time winner as Germany beat Argentina 1-0 to become the first European team to win a World Cup held in South America on Sunday.

Bayern Munich star Goetze struck in the 113th minute to finally break Argentina's resistance as Lionel Messi's dream of emulating Diego Maradona ended in defeat.

Brazil's miserable World Cup campaign ended in a chorus of boos on Saturday as the hosts slumped to a 3-0 defeat against the Netherlands in the third place playoff match.

A penalty from Robin van Persie and a Daley Blind strike saw the Dutch take a 2-0 lead after only 17 minutes as Brazil endured more woe after their humiliating 7-1 semi-final rout by Germany.

Thomas Mueller could leave Brazil with another Golden Boot, but all the Bavarian boy-next-door really cares about is winning Sunday's final to take the World Cup home to Germany.

The 24-year-old has come a long way since Diego Maradona famously mistook him for a ball boy after his Germany debut in a 1-0 defeat to Argentina in Munich in 2010.

Brazil's players and the coach asked for the fans' forgiveness after their record 7-1 mauling by Germany.

But the shock of the defeat in Belo Horizonte remains and Brazilians are now demanding a root and branch overhaul of its football.

A humiliated Brazil and downhearted Netherlands challenge for third place at the World Cup on Saturday in a match that will be quickly forgotten by teams already busy looking to the future.

The third-place match at the Mane Garincha National Stadium in Brasilia is part of the build-up to Sunday's final between Germany and Argentina in Rio de Janeiro.

Joachim Loew has again saved Germany’s best until the World Cup finals with the 54-year-old poised to finally claim his first major title in Brazil.

Having been appointed Jurgen Klinsmann's assistant in 2004 before becoming head coach in 2006, Germany have reached at least the semi-finals of all five major tournaments during his decade involved.

Argentina's Lionel Messi will never have a better opportunity to prove he is one of the greatest players of all time than in Sunday's World Cup final against Germany.

For all the breath-taking goals and teeming towers of silverware he has accumulated with Barcelona, it is in the World Cup final that the true greats confirm their legacies.

LeBron James' decision to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers after four seasons with Miami sparked a flurry of reaction Friday around the NBA, across American sports and beyond.

But few were as happy as Dave Blatt, who took over as the Cavaliers coach three weeks ago and will make his NBA debut the same night James plays his first game for Cleveland since 2010.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard paid an emotional tribute to Luis Suarez as the Uruguay striker's move to Barcelona was confirmed on Friday.

Suarez will make a £75 million switch to the Nou Camp after agreeing a five-year contract with the Spanish club.

Netherlands winger Arjen Robben has been the standout performer of this year's World Cup in the eyes of Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Brazil and the Netherlands meet in Saturday's third-place play-off in Brasilia and Scolari indicated that he will be making a special effort to stop Robben from hurting his side as they try to end the tournament on a high.