This was a spectacular example of how teamwork can demolish a side of talented individuals. Diego Maradona’s side was taken apart piece by piece by Joachim Low’s wonderfully-fluid and wonderfully-drilled side. Just as they had done against England, Germany targeted the weak links, in this case full-backs Nicolas Otamendi and Gabriel Heinze, and once Thomas Muller put them ahead, Argentina seldom looked capable of mounting a comeback. Lionel Messi excited the World Cup without a goal to his name, thoroughly eclipsed in Cape Town by the skills of Bastian Schweinsteiger. Miroslav Klose took his tally to four in South Africa and 14 in World Cup finals as the Argentinian defence collapsed to a series of ruthless counter-attacks and by the final whistle most of Maradona’s team was in tears and he was discussing his resignation as manager.