Germany midfielder Christoph Kramer's late call-up for the World Cup final against Argentina saw him come off dazed after 30 minutes, but he was still able to celebrate becoming a world champion.
The 23-year-old midfielder -- called in when Real Madrid star Sami Khedira injured a calf muscle in the warm-up at the Maracana stadium -- hardly knew where he was after Ezequiel Garay's shoulder connected with his jaw in the 17th minute.
Kramer played on but after 13 minutes coach Joachim Loew took the decision to send on Andre Schuerrle for the Borussia Moenchengladbach player who had to be helped off the pitch.
The blow did not temper his celebrations after Germany beat Argentina 1-0 through Mario Goetze's extra-time winner.
"I can't remember much, but that doesn't matter now," said Kramer.
"I must send greetings to my grandma, she has a birthday and I haven't been able to reach her."
Kramer is a world champion despite having won only five caps for his country.
He also played just 12 minutes at the finals prior to Sunday's game. He came on in extra-time in the last 16 win over Algeria and came off the bench in the 90th-minute of the quarter-final victory against France.
Source: AFP
