Pierre Littbarski on his World Cup victory
In 1990, I made history with the German national team
July 8, 1990: A day that would change my life forever. I remember how we, the German national team, stood in the pulsating heart of Rome, ready to face Argentina in the final of the World Cup. It was more than just a game; it was the moment we had worked towards our whole lives.
The air crackled with tension and the expectations were enormous. We had been preparing for this day for weeks. Each of us was aware that only ninety minutes stood between us and the greatest triumph of our careers.
The game itself was an emotional rollercoaster for me. It was a very difficult game for us because the Argentinians made life difficult for us. They played very defensively and although we dominated the game, we were unable to capitalize on our scoring opportunities. But then, in the 85th minute, the turning point came when we were awarded a penalty. Andreas Brehme was supposed to shoot, but it took a long time because the Argentinians tried to confuse him. I was standing a little off to the side, my heart pounding wildly. I held my breath as Andreas ran up and sank the ball into the net with admirable precision. A goal that sent everyone into pure ecstasy. The stadium was a sea of cheers and joy, and at that moment we knew that victory was within our grasp.
The last few minutes were the longest of my life. Each of us threw ourselves into the fight with our last strength, every tackle, every run counted. And then the final whistle - we had done it:
Germany were world champions in 1990! The emotions I felt at that moment were overwhelming. Joy, pride and also a deep gratitude to be part of this incredible team. That day in Rome will never be forgotten. For me it symbolizes not only victory, but also dedication, team spirit and the unwavering will to achieve great things together.
The outstanding leadership of our captain Lothar Matthäus, who kept driving us forward, the calmness of Bodo Illgner in goal, who saved us several times, and the tactical wisdom of our coach Franz Beckenbauer, who prepared us perfectly for every opponent - all of this formed us into a unit that was invincible that day.
The celebrations after the game were a rush of happiness and relief. We danced, sang and hugged each other, overwhelmed by the thought that we had made history. Forever this triumph will be a shining star in my life and in the annals of German football. We were world champions for the third time, a dream come true.