![]() The danger then appeared at the other end when Messi's sprint and driving run into the box got him round the back of the German defence to beat Neuer, although Jerome Boateng scrambled the ball clear. ![]() His replacement, Schurrle, then tested Romero in the Argentine goal with a well struck shot after Mueller got clear on the left. The 23-year-old had been hit hard in the head by an elbow by Garay and had never looked as if he was conscious of his whereabouts afterwards before being replaced after half an hour because of what appeared to be concussion. Germany were dealt a major blow when youngster Kramer, who had replaced Khedira minutes before the start, was forced to leave the field after half an hour. Thomas Mueller linked well on the right with Mesut Ozil as they tried to pull the well organised Argentine defence out of shape with little immediate success. The German defence, which had rarely been tested by quarter-final opponents France or Brazil in that bizarre semi-final looked like breaking on several occasions, struggling to cope not just with the tricks of Messi but the direct speedy running of Lavezzi, who attacked from the flanks or through the middle. Faced with opponents who would not buckle like Brazil, Germany had to gather themselves and dig in for what promised to be a long haul.
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