Remembering the figure of Philipp Lahm, the captain of the German national team when they won the 2014 World Cup

German team finally ended their fast of winning the World Cup. Der Panzer came out as champions after a narrow 1-0 win over Argentina in the 2014 World Cup final at the Maracana Stadium.

Substitute Mario Gotze became the hero of the German national team. Gotze scored the only goal in extra time after a pass from striker Andre Schurrle .

Germany also made history as the first European team to win the World Cup when the four-year tournament was held on the South American continent. Der Panzer was unbeaten during the 2014 World Cup.

There is one player whose role is so vital, but not so heralded by the media, namely the then German captain Phillipp Lahm. Starting the tournament as a midfielder, Lahm’s ability to organize games made him a wing-back several times in important matches at the 2014 World Cup, including the final against Argentina.

He put in a stunning performance by keeping the Argentine wingers in motion and was able to make precise passes that took his team out as champions thanks to Mario Gotze’s lone goal in extra time.

Retiring from the International World when Winning the World Cup

Philipp Lahm made perhaps the best decision of his life. He left international football while he was captain of the German national team, which he led to the 2014 World Cup triumph.

Surprisingly, at that time Lahm was only 30 years old. In modern football, players at almost 40 years old like Zlatan Ibrahimovic can still run and kick the ball on the pitch. But Lahm’s decision was unanimous.

“This is a decision I’ve been thinking about since last season,” he said.

Throughout his career, the 38-year-old former Bayern Munich player has represented Germany 113 times. He closed it with the title, which he had been chasing for 24 years since Der Panzer last won the 1990 World Cup in Italy, also beating Argentina in the final.

Lahm Genius Footballer

When compared to other German players, Lahm’s posture is fairly small (170cm). However, his physical flaws are covered by the genius brain he possesses.

One of the compliments came from Guardiola. Despite having handled a series of star players at Barcelona, ​​the Spanish coach named Lahm as the most genius player he had ever seen.

“Philipp Lahm is probably the most intelligent player I have ever worked with in my coaching career. Lahm is on another level,” Guardiola said.

Lahm was also gifted with the ability to read games. He has the instinct to understand exactly what will happen in the next three, five or 10 seconds.

The player, who has collected 113 caps and scored 5 goals for Germany, is good at regulating the tempo of the game and can read the pattern of the opponent’s game. Another gift that Lahm has.

Der Panzer Unique Player

While active as a player, Lahm was indeed known as a versatile player. He then became the only member of Der Panzer to appear in three different positions in three editions of the World Cup.

At the 2006 World Cup which was held in Germany, Lahm was trusted as a left back by coach Juergen Klinsmann. Four years later, he was returned to his natural position, right back by Joachim Loew.

While at the 2014 Brazil World Cup, Lahm switched roles as a midfielder under Loew’s control. With this position, Lahm actually succeeded in leading Germany to the highest trophy of the world football party after silencing Argentina 1-0 in the top match.

Loew dared to assign Lahm as a midfielder because the previous season looked stunning in the same position with Bayern Munich.