European stalwarts won title for the fourth time when substitute Mario Goetze volleyed in a brilliant goal seven minutes from the end of extra time.
Although China has never made it to World Cup finals held outside Asia, the Chinese take pride in their fervent involvement with the sporting extravaganza.
To inspire young players during the World Cup, the National Youth Soccer Development Office, Zhongtijixian Sports Cultural Corp and Global Media Productions have jointly launched the second season of Football Dream.
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) ruled that only heads of state and members of winning teams are allowed to handle the World Cup trophy which has traveled the world attracting no less attention than the people standing beside it.
The quadrennial FIFA World Cup is a feast of entertainment for all fans of the "beautiful game". Not only popular among ordinary people, matches are also enjoyed by world leaders.
Indigenous protesters wearing traditional headdress clashed with police in Brazil's capital on Tuesday, resulting in one officer being shot in the leg with an arrow and the cancellation of a ceremony to open the exhibition of the World Cup trophy.
China's technology has traveled all the way from Asia to help create a safer World Cup in Brazil with its advanced security inspection products.
Run-up to the World Cup: Brazil impression
Police officers went on a 24-hour strike in eight Brazilian states and the capital on Wednesday, demanding better pay and working conditions, raising security concerns less than a month before the opening match of the World Cup.
Road blocks and marches hit Brazilian cities on Thursday as disparate groups criticized spending on the upcoming World Cup soccer tournament and sought to revive a call for better public services that swept the country last June.
FIFA said Wednesday it is not considering changing kickoff times or adding mandatory cooling breaks during World Cup matches, despite being sued by Brazil's players' union because of health concerns.
Real Madrid's Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and his girlfriend Russian supermodel Irina Shayk pose during the shoot of Vogue Spain cover.