The final of the 2014 FIFA Men's World Cup was contested between which two national football teams?

Introduction / Context:
The FIFA World Cup is one of the biggest sporting events in the world, and its finals are historic moments remembered by football fans and exam setters alike. The 2014 FIFA Men's World Cup took place in Brazil and produced a memorable final. This question asks you to recall which two countries played in that final match, testing your knowledge of recent football history.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The tournament is the 2014 FIFA Men's World Cup.
• The venue for the final was the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
• Options list several combinations of strong football nations.
• We assume official FIFA records and match results.

Concept / Approach:
The 2014 World Cup final was contested between Germany and Argentina. Germany reached the final after famously defeating Brazil 7–1 in the semi final, while Argentina progressed by beating the Netherlands on penalties. In the final, Germany defeated Argentina 1–0 after extra time, with Mario Götze scoring the winning goal. Therefore, the correct pair of teams is Germany and Argentina.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Remember the host country: Brazil in 2014.Step 2: Recall the semi final where Germany beat Brazil 7–1 and advanced to the final.Step 3: Recall that Argentina beat the Netherlands in the other semi final.Step 4: Recognise that the final at the Maracana was Germany vs Argentina.Step 5: Select “Germany and Argentina” from the answer options.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, think of the iconic image of Mario Götze controlling a cross on his chest and scoring the winning goal in extra time. Match reports and highlight videos from 2014 constantly refer to Germany's 1–0 victory over Argentina. France, Italy, Brazil, and the Netherlands were eliminated earlier, which confirms that the only correct pairing for the final is Germany and Argentina.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
France and Argentina did not meet in the 2014 final; France went out earlier in the tournament. Germany and France met in the quarter finals, not the final. Italy was eliminated in the group stage and did not reach the knockout rounds, so Italy and Germany is impossible as a final pairing. Brazil and the Netherlands played in the third place match, not the final, after both lost their semi finals.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates mix up different World Cup editions, confusing the 2010, 2014, and 2018 finals. Others may remember dramatic matches such as Germany's 7–1 win over Brazil and mistakenly assume Brazil reached the final. Keeping a simple timeline of recent finals (2010 Spain vs Netherlands, 2014 Germany vs Argentina, 2018 France vs Croatia) helps avoid these mistakes.

Final Answer:
The 2014 FIFA Men's World Cup final was played between Germany and Argentina.