Germany prints victory stamps before WCup final

BERLIN (AP) Germany's Deutsche Post AG took a gamble on the outcome of the World Cup final - and it paid off.

Before the match even began the former state monopoly had printed five million stamps commemorating Germany's fourth World Cup title after 1954, 1974 and 1990.

Had Germany lost to Argentina, the stamps would have had to be pulped.

The two 0.60 cents ($0.82) stamps were presented Monday, just hours after Mario Goetze's late goal in extra time sealed Germany's 1-0 victory.

The stamps were ordered by Germany's Finance Ministry, which holds 21 percent of Deutsche Post's shares through the state-owned KfW bank.