Ezequiel Lavezzi of Argentina consoles teammate Javier Mascherano after being defeated by Germany 1-0 in extra time during their World Cup final match with Germany on July 13, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo: Getty Images

Javier Mascherano has described the "immense" pain he and his Argentina team-mates are suffering following their World Cup final defeat to Germany, insisting it will stay with them forever, Goal.com reports.

Mario Gotze's extra-time volley settled the contest in the Germans' favour at the Maracana, leaving Argentina without a World Cup success since Diego Maradona inspired them to glory 28 years ago in Mexico.

And Mascherano says the Albiceleste players gave everything they had in the final aginst Joachim Low's side and apologised to the people of the South American country.

"The pain is immense," Mascherano said on the Argentine FA's Twitter feed. "We gave what we could and we are sorry for ourselves and the people.

"The sadness is for life."