FIFA World Cup 2014 Final: Argentina Deserved to Win the Title, Says Messi

Argentina talisman Lionel Messi has insisted that the South Americans deserved to win the coveted World Cup trophy, but lacked killer instinct in the final against Germany.

Germany defeated the former champions 1-0 in the extra time, when 'super-sub' Mario Gotze beat the Argentine goalkeeper Sergio Romero to score the winner in the extra time.

Rodrigo Palacio, Gonzalo Higuain and Messi failed to convert a number of chances and the Argentine skipper missed opportunities in the final.

"There is sadness to finish in this way, I think we deserved a little more today," Messi said. "The better chances were ours and between the forwards we couldn't take them."

"We wanted to win the World Cup for all the people in Argentina and we couldn't do it," Messi said. "We tried, but we didn't have the luck we had in other games."

"After a long time not getting past the quarter-finals we managed to get to the final, but today there is the disappointment of having lost in the last minutes of extra time," he added.

Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella pointed out that his team had some clear-cut chances to win the game but his players lacked "efficiency."

"It was a very balanced game," Sabella said, "They had more possession, but we had more cutting edge, more chances. When there are chances in a game that is so evenly balanced, you have to take them. We lacked a bit of efficiency."

However, Sabella praised his players for recovering after an exhausting semifinals clash against the Netherlands and putting a fight against the Germans.

"We played a day later and extra time, and the only thing I can do is congratulate my players," he said. "The work they did was extraordinary and we also congratulate Germany."

Meanwhile, Gotze was ecstatic by scoring the winner seven minutes before time and said everyone in the German camp are happy and they deserve to win the title after an incredible performance in the tournament.

"It's an unbelievable feeling, I don't know how to describe it," Gotze said, "I just took the shot and didn't know what was happening. For us, the dream has become reality.

"I'm very proud of the team and extremely happy about everything that has happened here in Brazil," he added. "Every player in our team deserves praises and we're very proud to have won this Trophy."