By the numbers: How Germany outplayed everyone at World Cup 2014

If there is one word that has defined World Cup champions Germany in this year's world cup it has to be efficiency. Consistently efficient passing, efficient shots at goal, efficient defending and way above efficient goalkeeping by Manuel Neuer, who walked away with the golden glove. And the numbers show how they've outrun, out-passed and out-scored every opponent that came up against them in this edition of the World Cup (if you discount the Ghana match in the group stage which they drew).

[caption id="attachment_90732" align="alignleft" width="380"] The victorious German team. AP image[/caption]

Statistics show that when it came to the number of goals scored, goals per match, shots on target, distance covered by the players, and the passes completed in every match, the Germans were the best when compared to Argentina, Netherlands and Brazil, the other teams that made it to the semi-finals.

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The only department in which they were less than anyone was when it came to taking shots at goal, where Argentina and Brazil did better. But the higher number of goals scored per match only shows how much better Germany were at making it count.

Here's how Germany stood compared to the three other semi-finalists:

Fifa also has some interesting graphs on where the teams score from which highlight how Germany ensured that they took all their shots from as close to the goal as possible, explaining the high scoring rate.

[caption id="attachment_90727" align="alignleft" width="406"] Where Germany scored their goals from: point blank range. Image courtesy: Fifa.com[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_90728" align="alignleft" width="406"] Argentina's scoring pattern in this world cup. Image courtesy: Fifa.com[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_90729" align="alignleft" width="406"] Where the Netherlands scored their goals from. Image courtesy: Fifa.com[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_90730" align="alignleft" width="406"] Where Brazil scored from in this World Cup. Image courtesy: Fifa.com[/caption]