Lothar Matthaus:
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Lothar Matthaus, is a rather forgotten man in football today, not least because it has been over 25 years now since the crowning achievement of his career – winning the World Cup with Germany. Many people don’t, however, appreciate the quality of his career, mainly because he was overshadowed by the likes of Platini, Maradona and van Basten, among others.
He holds the record for the most appearances in World Cup games (25) and most FIFA World Cups played (5). He first featured on the national team in a major tournament at Euro 80, as West Germany won the competition for the first time. He, however, did not make a single appearance for them.
He was also left on the bench during their run to the final of the 1982 World Cup, except games against Chile and Austria, when he was brought on as a substitute. His first international tournament as a starter was a bit of a disaster, as West Germany could not qualify from their group to the semifinals at Euro 84.
It was in the World Cup of 1986 that he rose to prominence in the West Germany team that lost in the final again, this time to Maradona’s Argentina. Matthaus rose to the fore as an all-action midfielder who belonged to the very elite category of players in the history of the game, but the end product eluded him once more.
In the Champions League final of 1986-87, while playing for Bayern against Porto, Matthaus put in an impeccable performance before being substituted. After his substitution, however, Bayern conceded 2 in quick succession to lose a game they should’ve won. He must’ve been kicking himself while sitting in the dugout.
Although he was in top nick at the Euro 1988, Germany again lost 2-1 to eventual winners Netherlands. Matthaus then earned a transfer to Internazionale, where he completed 4 successful seasons with the Nerazzuri.
His first international success came at the World Cup of 1990, when Rudi Voller and Juergen Klinsmann fired Germany to the trophy. Matthaus, with his dogged, persistent approach, remained an integral part of every team he played for, till he retired at the end of the 1999-2000 season after the Disaster of Barcelona (Bayern conceded the goals after he was substituted in the 80th minute). He won another international tournament with Germany at the Euro 96, rounding up a fabulous career.
