The German national team will win gold on home soil at Euro 2024 and celebrate 10 years since their last victory at a major tournament. In July 2014, the Germans became world champions, beating Argentina (1-0) in the final under Leo Messi. They were an incredible team and scored seven goals in the semi-final in Brazil! Before the match between Germany and Spain, we look back at the heroes of that Bundestim campaign. Some are still in business today.
Manuel Neuer, 38 years old
Manuel Neuer then and now
Photo: Fake Images
Ten years have passed since that World Cup and Neuer is still the number one in the German national team. That’s incredible! At the 2014 World Cup, Manuel played all seven games and conceded four goals. He gave away four “savoury biscuits”. At the current European Championship, the Bayern goalkeeper has played four games (two nil) and conceded two goals. One can only sympathise with the talented Marc-André ter Stegen, who is forced to sit behind such a block. Neuer is already among the top five players in terms of number of games in the history of the German national team (123).
Philip Lahm, 40 years old
Philipp Lahm then and now
Photo: Fake Images
Captain of the German national team at the 2014 World Cup. Lahm played in every match from the first to the last minute (he was a defensive midfielder and right-back), and made two assists. After winning the World Cup, Philip finished playing for the national team. However, he played three more seasons at Bayern, where he spent virtually his entire career, except for a loan to Stuttgart. After retiring from football, Lahm was appointed ambassador for Germany’s bid for Euro 2024 in 2017. He then landed a position at Stuttgart, becoming an advisor to the board of directors.
Jérôme Boateng, 35 years old
Jérôme Boateng then and now
Photo: Getty Images/LASK
One of two central defenders for the German national team in the 2014 World Cup final. At the tournament, Boateng played seven games without scoring. His career with the national team lasted until November 2018. But the club is still going strong. In September 2021, Jerome left Bayern and moved to Lyon as a free agent. Two more seasons later he was left without a club, but six months later he returned to the field as part of Salernitana. And recently Boateng became a newcomer to the Austrian LASK. The return of the former world champion to Bayern did not happen a year ago due to the consequences of the scandal – allegations of domestic violence.
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Mats Hummels, 35 years old
Hummels agrees then and now
Photo: Fake Images
Boateng’s teammate in Germany’s 2014 World Cup final was Hummels. In six games, the centre-back scored two goals. Mats is also continuing his playing career, despite his advanced age. He left Borussia Dortmund for Bayern, but returned three years later and reached the Champions League final with Dortmund last season. The “old man” was in good form and was hoping to play at Euro 2024, but was disappointed to learn that Julian Nagelsmann decided to release him. Hummels left Dortmund this summer. The defender has options in Italy and Spain, and may move to Bayer Leverkusen.
Benedikt Höwedes, 36 years old
Benedikt Höwedes then and now
Photo: Fake Images
The versatile Höwedes covered the left flank of the German national team’s defence at that World Cup. He made seven appearances and provided one assist. Benedict then went to Euro 2016 with the Germans and played his last game for the national team in March 2017. That same year, Höwedes left Schalke, which became a mini sensation: the defender’s entire career was connected with this club. Benedict was loaned out by Juventus and his last team was Lokomotiv Moscow. After leaving football, Höwedes started working as a TV pundit and in 2021-2022 he worked as a coach for the German national team.
Christopher Kramer, 33 years old
Christopher Kramer then and now
Photo: Fake Images
The defensive midfielder played in the 2014 World Cup final thanks to a coincidence of circumstances. His career in the national team is a brief flash. Christopher made his debut in the national team just before the start of the World Cup in May 2014. In the tournament itself he played only a quarter of an hour before the final. But before the match against Argentina, Khedira was injured in the warm-up, so Kramer was included in the starting eleven. However, he himself had to be substituted after half an hour due to injuries. Centerhav played only 12 games for the German national team, the last one being in March 2016. For 11 years he has been playing for Borussia Mönchengladbach (he was only with Bayer for one year).
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Bastian Schweinsteiger, 39 years old
Bastian Schweinsteiger then and now
Photo: Fake Images
Schweinsteiger is a star midfielder for the German national team, having played for the national team for 10 years at the time. At the 2014 World Cup, Bastian played six matches and received two yellow cards (he and Höwedes each received one in the final). Schweinsteiger’s career in the national team lasted until August 2016. And he left his hometown Bayern a year earlier. He spent two seasons at Manchester United, after which he went to finish his career in the MLS: the German was signed by the Chicago Fire. After leaving the big sport, Bastian enjoys life with his wife, the famous former tennis player Ana Ivanovic. He worked as a TV pundit.
Toni Kroos, 34 years old
Toni Kroos then and now
Photo: Fake Images
Another 2014 World Cup winner who is still in the game. We are now watching the last matches of Kroos’ brilliant career. In 2024, Tony unexpectedly announced his retirement from football, although he is still one of the strongest centres in the world. He still has to play and play at this level! But Kroos wants to be remembered as the best, not as a fading star. The German ended his last season at Real Madrid with a Champions League victory. For Euro 2024, Tony returned to the German national team after three years to say goodbye to the national team at home. At the 2014 World Cup he scored 2+3 in seven games. In the current tournament he did not make any effective actions in four games.
Mesut Ozil, 35 years old
Mesut Ozil then and now
Photo: Fake Images
Ozil is the most brilliant German number ten, although he played at the victorious 2014 World Cup as number eight. In seven matches of the tournament, Mesut scored one goal and provided one assist. He played for the German national team until 2018 and left the national team after the next failed World Cup. The attacking midfielder’s club career ended in March 2023. He left Arsenal for his ancestors’ homeland, Turkey, but in reality he played for Fenerbahce and Istanbul Basaksehir. The end was a blur: the Turks expected a lot from Ozil and then criticized him.
Thomas Müller, 34 years old
Thomas Müller then and now
Photo: Fake Images
“Iron” Muller was in the national team at the 2014 World Cup and is still in the national team. But now his role in the German national team is less significant. 10 years ago, the attacking midfielder/forward became the most productive among the Germans: 5+3 in seven matches. At Euro 2024, Thomas played only 20 minutes in the first round against Scotland, but managed to score one assist. His entire club career was spent at Bayern, so he represented Munich in all tournaments with the German national team. The contract is valid for one more year, and then Thomas can finish with football.
Miroslav Kloše, 46 years old
Miroslav Klose then and now
Photo: Fake Images
The legendary centre-forward of the German national team and the national team’s all-time top scorer with 71 goals. For Klose, the 2014 World Cup was a wonderful end to his career with the national team. At that tournament, Miroslav scored two goals in five games. But today he was older than Müller or Kroos. Klose then played a few more seasons at Lazio and then left the sport. And he returned as a coach. He was an assistant at the German national team and at Bayern, coached youth teams at a club in Munich and in the 2022/2023 season he managed Austrian side Altach. In the summer of 2024 he took over at Nuremberg, which was stuck in the second Bundesliga.
André Schürrle, 33 years old.
André Schurrle then and now
Photo: Fake Images
Schurrle was not a key player for Germany at the 2014 World Cup, but in the final he came on for Kramer in the 32nd minute and provided an assist. Overall, it was a successful tournament for Andre. He scored 3+1 in six games, making him the third-highest scorer in the team. His career with the German national team ended in March 2017. At the 2014 World Cup, the striker represented Chelsea, then played for Wolfsburg, Borussia Dortmund and Fulham. And in the summer of 2019 he moved to Russia: Schurrle was loaned to Spartak for one season. But André was no longer the same. After a mediocre year in Moscow, he hung up his boots. The former Spartak player got down to business and found a new hobby: he conquered the highest mountain in Germany.
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Mario Götze, 32 years old
Mario Götze before and now
Photo: Fake Images
The “golden boy” of German football and scorer of the only goal in the World Cup final. Mario came on as a substitute late in the second half against Argentina and scored a goal in the 113th minute to give Germany the victory. It was the finest hour for the attacking midfielder, whose career was unfortunately marred by injuries. In total, Götze scored 2+0 in six games at the 2014 World Cup. A year earlier, Mario moved from Borussia Dortmund to Bayern, but returned to Dortmund in 2016. Four seasons later he joined Dutch side PSV, and has been with Eintracht Frankfurt since 2022. He last played for the national team in March 2023.
Per Mertesacker, 39 years old
According to Mertesacker then and now
Photo: Fake Images
For centre-back Mertesacker, the 2014 World Cup final was the quickest. He came on as a substitute in the 120th minute to buy time and maintain the minimum lead. And it was possible to do so. Overall, Per played six matches in that tournament and was included in the starting eleven four times. Until the quarter-finals he was the team’s main player. The “Golden” World Cup was Mertesacker’s last tournament with the national team. At club level, he played for Arsenal for four more seasons. After finishing playing, Per stayed at the London club. Since 2018 he has been head of the youth department.
Sami Khedira, 37 years old
Sami Khedira then and now
Photo: Fake Images
The central midfielder was unlucky to be injured just before the start of the final. At the 2014 World Cup, Khedira played five games and scored 1+1, scoring both goals in the semi-final against Brazil. After that tournament, Sami remained in the national team, and his last in the German national team was the 2018 World Cup. In Russia, the Germans did not leave the group. In 2015, Khedira moved from Real Madrid to Juventus, where he stayed for six years, and before leaving football he spent another six months at Hertha. Sami then accepted the role of TV pundit and was also an advisor to the board of directors of Stuttgart.
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Coach Joachim Löw, 64 years old
Joachim Löw then and now
Photo: Fake Images
Löw is an era in the German national team! He was in charge of the national team from 2006 to 2021. I experienced ups and downs with him. Under him, the Germans won gold at the 2014 World Cup and did not leave the group stage. Looking back on how he got that win over Argentina, Joachim admitted in an interview:
“It’s hard to describe, but I wanted to be alone. I locked myself in the bathroom because there were people everywhere in the locker room. I wanted to understand, did this really happen or was it just a dream? Let’s just say that my spirits were not as high as I thought they would be after winning the World Championships, I never expected that. I woke up often at night. Various situations were going through my head. Bad sleep and then that tiredness and inner heaviness. Everything went well and, I have to be honest, after a few days it wasn’t so easy for me.”
Perhaps that is why Lev was in no hurry to return to coaching. Although in the last three years several clubs, including top-flight ones, have been associated with his name. However, now Joachim, according to him, is ready for a new challenge.
