Andreas Breme, has passed away at the age of 63

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Andreas Breme, has passed away at the age of 63

Manos Staramopoulos • feb 22, 2024

The former german wrote his name as the hero who gave his country the FIFA World Cup title in Italy 1990

Andreas Brehme hero of Germany in FIFA World Cup 1990, died at the age of 63

Andreas Brehme death leaves a void in the world of football, but it won't stop him from being a part of World Cup history. The German wrote his name as the hero who gave his country the World Cup title in 1990. He did it from the penalty spot in the 1990 final and gave the big trophy to his national team.

The man responsible for the launch was the captain and star of the "punchers", Lothar Matthaus who had already shown his qualities from the eleven meters in that match. He scored the only goal in the quarter-final against Czechoslovakia and also in the penalty shoot-out against England in the semi-finals. But on the decisive day he did not have a good feeling about the match against Argentina.

"Brehme did it because I had a problem with one of my shoes. It was torn and for the second half I decided to change them. I put on new shoes, but I didn't feel comfortable in them and therefore I didn't feel safe. That's why I didn't hit the decisive penalty and asked Bremen to do it," commented Lothar Matthaeus years later.

Also in front of him was Sergio Goycochea, who had become Argentina's unexpected star by saving several penalties in that league. But the left-footed Brehme, with a lot of temperament, did not hesitate and took up the challenge. And to confuse expert Goycochea, the German made the decision to take the penalty... with his right foot.

Unexpected hero

Brehme became an unexpected hero in the final for his missed penalty, but he has been a key player in this tournament in several matches despite being a left-back. He scored one of the two goals in the round of 16 to knock out the Netherlands (2-1) and also scored in the semi-finals against England (1-1), later scoring one of the penalties in the process that led his country in winning the event.

Brehme gave the World Cup to Germany at a very special time. His country was going through a profound transformation that had begun eight months earlier with the fall of the Berlin Wall. In fact, although it participated in that World Cup as the West German national team, such unification did not become official until October. That title, the third in its history, with that Bremen goal, was an injection of pride for a country that was beginning to rise after decades of division.

Andreas Brehme was a full-back capable of playing with both feet, recognized as one of the most elegant footballers of his time. He started his career with Barbeck-Ullenhorst, a team from the city of Hamburg. After five seasons he had the opportunity to join FC Kaiserslautern and after five years it was Bayern who knocked on his door in 1986.

In 1988 he spread his wings for Italy and specifically moved to Inter Milan to join compatriots Jurgen Klinsmann and Lothar Mathaeus in the Italian team, where he won three trophies (a Scudetto, an Italian Super Cup and a UEFA Cup). He spent four years in Italy, just one season with Real Zaragoza (31 games and four goals) before returning to his beloved Kaiserslautern from 1993 to 1998. Bremen retired after winning two Bundesliga titles (with Bayern in 1987 and with Kaiserslautern in 1998). He also won Euro 1996 with Germany.

"I was 33 at the time and had spent a year at Real Zaragoza. Kaiserslautern wanted a bit more experience and offered me a one year contract to help them out. I ended up staying there for five seasons! During that time, we got relegated, won the German Cup, got promoted and won the Bundesliga. It was crazy. At 38, I finally hung up my shoes. It was great to end my career at the club where it all started. It was a dream come true", were the words of Breme when asked to talk about the last station in his rich football career.

The death of Andreas Breme spread sadness not only in German football, but also in the world. His former teammate at Inter Giuseppe Bergomi (he was a teammate at Inter) talking about him couldn't stand it and burst into tears.

"Big Andy was worth everything, he was a nice and great person,"