He found himself part of the action minutes later. “Stay in the middle and head it out were my introductions from the manager,” said Mertesacker. “I won a header and the celebrations were huge, I’ve never won a header quite like it. It was great to play a part in the success. I was on the field and helped us win the title. It was an incredible feeling.”
"It was sensational"
“The bus journey back to the hotel was sensational. We sung and celebrated together. It was special.” The 30-year-old also has good memories of the celebrations in Berlin. “We were allowed on the Brandenburg Gate with the World Cup trophy.” Weeks later Arsenal met Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, so a reunion with some of his team mates was possible: “We were all still smiling and laughing. What we achieved will stay with us forever.”
The commemorative World Cup winning film “Die Mannschaft” is premièred in Berlin on Monday. From next Thursday, people can relive the World Cup success in cinemas across the country: The goals, the emotions and the magical final in Rio de Janeiro are all featured. In an interview with Stern Per Mertesacker spoke about the final in the Maracana once again.
“Before the final we felt we had the energy needed to win the tournament,” said the defender who retired after the tournament. “We managed to answer a few questions. We were determined to win the title so they wouldn’t be asked again.”
Ahead of the Final, Joachim Löw instilled great belief in his players: “The trophy is in our reach, there’s just one more game – that was Joachim Löw’s philosophy,” explained the Arsenal FC defender. “A few tactical instructions were on the wall. But there were also messages – Today! Not tomorrow! Not the day after! It’s time to write history.”
"Fight properly and we will finish what we started”
Ahead of the tournament the team expected Brazil would make the final but Argentina provided the opposition. Germany met the hosts in the semi-final and achieved a historical 7-1 victory. Mertesacker: “We put in our best performance of the tournament in the semi-final. We knew we had to put in a great performance again. We had to fight properly in order to finish what we set out to do.”
Ahead of kick-off in the Maracana, Mertesacker knew that it wasn’t just an ordinary game: “You see the trophy as you walk onto the pitch. When you see the trophy, you know it’s a different sort of game.” Argentina created the better chances early on but couldn’t find a breakthrough: “It’s not going to be Argentina’s day today. We’re still in it.” Germany then grew into the game. “We began to feel more confident. Even if it went to penalties we felt we could win. We always find a way somehow, we’re Germany – we have Manuel Neuer.”
"Stay in the middle and head it out"
Mertesacker’s sentiments were right – Mario Götze put Germany in front in extra-time- “Some of us ran onto the pitch when it went in,” grinned the defender. “Ron-Robert Zieler made it all the way to the corner flag! It was an unbelievable feeling of relief.”
He found himself part of the action minutes later. “Stay in the middle and head it out were my introductions from the manager,” said Mertesacker. “I won a header and the celebrations were huge, I’ve never won a header quite like it. It was great to play a part in the success. I was on the field and helped us win the title. It was an incredible feeling.”
"It was sensational"
“The bus journey back to the hotel was sensational. We sung and celebrated together. It was special.” The 30-year-old also has good memories of the celebrations in Berlin. “We were allowed on the Brandenburg Gate with the World Cup trophy.” Weeks later Arsenal met Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, so a reunion with some of his team mates was possible: “We were all still smiling and laughing. What we achieved will stay with us forever.”
