IT IS THE biggest match in world sport.

And even though the action took place thousands of miles away, Hampshire enjoyed its own share of the drama as the World Cup final took place tonight.

German and Argentinian fans alike watched the drama unfold as their teams did battle in Brazil's Maracana stadium.

And in the end it was the Germans who were celebrating, as their team won for the fourth time (but the first since their country was reunified on the international scene).

The tension of the occasion was plain to see on the faces of nervous fans from both sides as they gathered in bars and pubs in Southampton.

Some waved their national team’s flag as they endured the agonies and ecstasies of the world's biggest sporting spectacle.

Others screamed at the screen at every opportunity and put their heads in their hands at every missed chance.

And even though England's involvement in the tournament ended weeks ago, the big moments were still accompanied by loud choruses of groans and cheers in city bars.

The fans were forced to go the whole distance, as the teams went into extra time after 90 minutes which saw Germany's Benedikt Howedes hit the post and Argentina's Gonzalo Higuain have a goal disallowed.

It had looked as though the match was heading for penalties, but then Germany's Mario Gotze scored the decisive goal seven minutes before the end of extra time to win the match.

The goal was greeted by cheers in 90 Degrees bar in Bedford Place, Southampton, where several German fans were in the audience.

Michael Franz, an international salesman at Carnival UK, said: “It feels amazing.

“Germany had some great chances earlier on, but that was probably the goal of the tournament.

“It's fantastic."

And graphic designer Lee Murray, whose mother is German, said: “I am absolutely buzzing, I’m glad it didn’t go to penalties as it's been a great World Cup and it wouldn’t have been the right way to end it.”