Philipp Lahm’s greatest games

“MANY OF THE BAYERN TEAM WHO WON AT WEMBLEY IN 2013 WERE HOMEGROWN PLAYERS THE SIDE’S HEART AND SOUL”

Germany 4 Costa Rica 2 June 9, 2006 World Cup

“I’d say playing at a World Cup in your own country is probably one of the most thrilling things you can experience. The most important tournament in football in front of your own supporters... it was fantastic. On top of that, to score in my home town in the opening game of the tournament was the jewel in the crown. Don’t forget, I wasn’t exactly known as a goalscoring machine!”

B Munich 1 Chelsea 1 (3-4p) May 19, 2012 Champions League Final

“My memories of the 2012 final are not that great, obviously. However, it was incredible to play a Champions League final in your home town – and in your own stadium – against Chelsea. It was an outstanding event, with the wrong result. It was a night when we didn’t have the best of luck in the shootout.”

B Dortmund 1 B Munich 2 May 25, 2013 Champions League Final

“A year later, we won the Champions League trophy at Wembley. Many of that team were homegrown players who were its heart and soul. It’s always important to have players around that have the club as a whole at heart, and who can transmit it to other members of the team. There’s always a pulsating heart, as we say in Germany, that is surrounded by top-class individuals.”

Germany 1 Argentina 0 July 13, 2014 World Cup Final

“We got to the semi-finals at the 2006 World Cup, the final at Euro 2008, the semi-finals at the 2010 World Cup and the semis again at Euro 2012. Then the moment comes when you want to win a title more than ever. My dream came true in 2014. It was an amazing feeling to climb the steps and lift the trophy in an arena like the Maracana.”