David Luiz has been lifted out of his World Cup depression by a fan letter from a young supporter. Luiz left the pitch in Belo Horizonte in floods of tears after Brazil's humiliating 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany.

The 2014 FIFA World Cup final is almost upon us, and adidas have released their advert to mark the showdown at the Maracana.

The Italian official accused last week of favouring Argentina and Lionel Messi has been chosen to referee their World Cup final against Germany.

If Argentina do confound what would appear to be growing opinion and lift the World Cup for the third time on Sunday, do not expect to find coach Alejandro Sabella in the middle of the post-match party.

This summer, former England Under-21 team-mates Theo Walcott and Adam Johnson played golf together in Portugal. At the same time, six of the Germans they faced in the 2009 European Championship final were in Brazil heading towards the World Cup final.

Louis van Gaal created the little bit of history that he desired by ensuring Holland remained undefeated in normal and extra time with a 3-0 third-place play-off victory over hosts Brazil.

Heine Allemagne, 43, the man man who invented the magic vanishing spray adopted for use in Brazil, us set to reap the financial rewards after years in poverty and facing bankruptcy.

Long-standing issues throughout the Brazilian game have led to disappointment in their home World Cup, according to Gilberto Silva.

Arjen Robben has revealed he turned down Louis van Gaal's advances after the outgoing Holland coach asked him to follow him to new club Manchester United.

What sets Germany apart is that they are in a constant state of self-evaluation, while never allowing the free pass of treating a World Cup as a dry run.

World Cup fanatic Rihanna posted a picture of herself and football legend Pele soon after she landed in Brazil ahead of Sunday evening's final. The Barbados-born singer, who has been tweeting her thoughts on the World Cup throughout the duration of the tournament, met the 72-year-old in Rio de Janeiro.

Robin van Persie and Holland may have had to settle for finishing third in the World Cup, but their army of supporters don't seem to be fretting too much about what could have been.

Brazil's third-place play-off against Holland on Saturday was a chance for a redemption following their jaw-dropping 7-1 semi-final humiliation to Germany.

At first glance it looked so simple. Almost a toe-poke, in fact. And then, around the stadium, those in celebration and despair searched for the replay. There it was, in all its glory. A goal to grace a World Cup final, a goal that was so much more than the sum of its parts.

MATCH ZONE: Huge roars greeted the Germans, with 'Oles' roaring around the stadium for any sustained passing sequence by Joachim Low's side.

Lukas Podolski needs no invitation to take a selfie, so the Germany striker wasn't about to let the opportunity pass him by after winning the World Cup.

Southend United manager Phil Brown became an unexpected talking point on Twitter on Sunday night after Sky Sports News selected him to be a pundit on the World Cup final.

For plenty, the World Cup coming to an end is unwelcome after more than a month of explosive football on the biggest of stages.

NEIL ASHTON AT THE MARACANA: Germany have been regarded as the best prepared team at the tournament for some time: Best players, best training ground, best coach, best everything.

IAN LADYMAN AT THE MARACANA: Lionel Messi played well enough for 90 minutes, but when the defining chance came early in the second half he couldn’t take it.

There were echoes of Harald Schumacher's infamous pole-axing of Patrick Battiston as Manuel Neuer clattered in to Gonzalo Higuain in Sunday night's World Cup final.

GRAHAM POLL: Nicola Rizzoli will be able to look back on this final with pride as he performed well as did both of his assistants in a tough match.

It has been a month of high drama, stunning goals and a fair share of controversy. And with the World Cup over, Sportsmail asked its experts how they will best remember Brazil 2014.

BRIAN BARWICK: And so to Match 64, or the World Cup Final as you and I call it. And the two teams are rested, recuperated, and ready for ‘the big one’.

David Beckham and his three boys were at the Maracana to take in the World Cup final on Sunday night - and there was no doubting which side they were supporting. Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz were all kitted out in Argentina shirts as they took on Germany for the greatest prize in world football.

As the Germany players celebrated their World Cup victory, their WAGs could not resist joining the on-field party at the Maracana.

MARK WEBSTER: Mike Ingham, a familiar voice on BBC Radio 5 Live for three decades, delivered his last commentary as Germany beat Argentina to win the World Cup on Sunday night. As ever, he found the right words for the occasion.

Despite playing just five games at the World Cup, Colombia's star James Rodriguez won the Golden Boot with six goals.

They are the bits of tournament television coverage we love to watch but which we also dread, and in the battle of the World Cup 2014 montages BBC just shaded it over ITV.

It was a World Cup full of stunning goals, epic entertainment, brilliant performances and many shocks. Sportsmail's Chris Wheeler reflects on Brazil 2014 and lists 10 reasons why it was the best ever.

SAM CUNNINGHAM: Blood oozed from the cut beneath his right eye. The wound was so deep that the bright red claret streamed down his protruding right cheek.

Mario Gotze may look like he is not long out of babygrow lederhosen but his status as Germany’s wunderkind has been established for some considerable time.

And then there was one, Germany the winners of Brazil 2014 following their victory over Argentina in the final at the Maracana. But what about the other numbers to emerge from the finals?

MARTIN KEOWN: The World Cup final can be the best occasion of a footballer's life, or the worst if they crumble under the pressure.

Jose Mourinho says Lionel Messi should not be considered the scapegoat after Argentina's World Cup final defeat to Germany.

Fred has retired from international football at the age of 30 after Brazil's disappointing World Cup campaign came to an end. He scored 18 goals in 39 games.

It was party time for Germany after clinching their fourth World Cup with a 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina in the final on Sunday.

Ray Whelan, the English director of FIFA's official ticket and hospitality partners MATCH, is in police custody after handing himself in to a judge in Rio de Janeiro several days after being declared 'a fugitive' by police investigating a ticket touting ring.

There will have been plenty of Arsenal fans cheering on Germany on Sunday evening, attempting to share in the triumph of a World Cup win that seems to edge further away from England's dreams.

Germany's World Cup-winning stars were letting their heroics at the Maracana sink in on Monday as they relaxed at their Rio de Janeiro hotel with their ultimate prize.

Diego Maradona took a swipe at Lionel Messi the day after his World Cup heartache by insisting the heir to his throne didn't deserve to win the Golden Ball award.

Lionel Messi's crowning as the World Cup's outstanding player shocked some prominent figures, but without his individual brilliance Argentina's goals dried up.

BRIAN BARWICK: This has been a hugely enjoyable World Cup for viewers and one that England’s early exit failed to diminish.

Philipp Lahm was Germany's intrepid leader on the pitch but Lukas Podolski was leading them home to their inevitable rapturous reception in Berlin.

Luiz Felipe Scolari quit as manager of Brazil after the host nation tasted their first back-to-back defeats on home soil since 1940 during a humiliating World Cup.

There's nothing better than your country winning the World Cup, but Barbadian singer Rihanna seemed more than happy after Germany beat Argentina.

SPONSORED: Lionel Messi and James Rodriguez have lit up the summer with their silky skills and fabulous flair... but back home these football freestylers have impressed on a special pitch in east London.

Bastian Schweinsteiger is targeting further glory with Germany after finally winning his first major trophy with the national side. Schweinsteiger had become used to just coming up short in major tournaments.

MARTIN SAMUEL AT THE MARACANA: The perfect team versus the perfect superstar that was the narrative here. On one side Die National Mannschaft, on the other Lionel Messi. Yet football has a way of confounding such expectation. Mario Gotze scored a team goal, true, but with a level of technique that would have won Messi the Golden Ball had it come from his foot.

I'm lucky to live at home with my parents so this is why I just need to earn around £100 a week to pay the bills I need to per month. But should I earn more to get in the system for the state pension?