Germany receive FIFA World Cup Badge at Die Mannschaft film premiere

(FIFA.com) Monday 10 November 2014

Prior to today’s world premiere of the film Die Mannschaft (The Team) - a documentary charting Germany’s triumphant 2014 FIFA World Cup™ campaign - FIFA President Blatter awarded the German national team and its coaching staff the FIFA World Champions Badge in Berlin. On the stage at the cinema in Potsdamer Platz, Germany’s entire FIFA World Cup winning side, German FA [DFB] president Wolfgang Niersbach and the FIFA President looked back on the unforgettable emotions the tournament in Brazil stirred up.

“Winning the World Cup in Brazil crowned the development that started with the summer fairytale of hosting the finals in 2006,” said FIFA President Blatter, who also praised the exemplary ambassadorial role the 23 members of the squad played at the tournament: “The team’s attractive and attacking playing style is symbolic of a cosmopolitan and engaging Germany that people everywhere recognise, respect and appreciate.”

FIFA first awarded the coveted World Champions Badge to Italy in 2006. In recognition of Germany’s success at Brazil 2014, and as a permanent reminder of their triumph, the team may now wear the Badge on their shirts until the Final of the Russia 2018 World Cup.

DFB president Niersbach was delighted to receive the accolade, saying: “It’s a huge honour for our national team to be able to wear the World Champions Badge on their shirt and it is visible proof that they achieved great things in Brazil. The entire footballing community in Germany is proud of this golden emblem.”

Coach Joachim Low and World Cup-winning captain Philipp Lahm likewise expressed their pride at the award, as well as having lifted the country’s fourth title following the achievements in 1954, 1974 and 1990. “The Badge is a wonderful honour but at the same time I view it as an incentive and an obligation not to ease off,” said Low. 

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