Throughout footballing historical past, Germany have acquired an enviable popularity when it comes to producing world class goalkeepers.
With Champions League winners Manuel Neuer and Marc-Andre ter Stegan set to battle it out to be named as Joachim Low's shot-stopper in Russia this summer time, the pair are merely the newest in a wealthy manufacturing line of expertise to comply with in the footsteps of names comparable to Sepp Maier, Harald Schumacher and so on.
While these aforementioned names are amongst a number of the biggest to don the gloves for Die Mannschaft, just one can lay declare to being the primary (and solely) goalkeeper to win the FIFA Golden Ball. An honour bestowed on the imposing determine of Oliver Kahn, etching his title into the historical past books in the method.
Forging a popularity in his early profession taking part in for hometown membership Karlsruher SC as a staunch, aggressive 'keeper that strived for excellence, it might be their phenomenal run to the 1994 UEFA Cup semi finals that will persuade the Bundesliga heavyweights, ultimately sealing a £2m transfer to Bayern Munich that summer time.
His transfer to Bavaria would show a fruitful one, incomes 4 Bundesliga titles, two home cups, a UEFA Cup and Champions League all earlier than the primary World Cup held on Asian soil. Individual honours would additionally inevitably comply with in that point, with two IFFHS Goalkeeper of the Year awards, six Bundesliga Goalkeeper of the Year awards and third place at the 2001 Ballon d'Or.
Despite the glut of success at Die Roten, Kahn had to be affected person on the worldwide stage earlier than making his immense presence felt. Making his debut in 1995 after a watching transient on the 1994 World Cup, it would not be till Euro 2000 when Kahn obtained his first style of match soccer for Germany, after spending Euro '96 and the 1998 World Cup on the bench.
A disastrous match in Belgium and Holland culminated in a group stage exit in 2000, whereas a play off win in opposition to Ukraine to qualify for the World Cup two years later did little to persuade followers of success in South Korea and Japan; giving a 32-year-outdated Kahn the perfect stage to set up perception again into German soccer.
Ousting lengthy-time period rival Jens Lehmann to be named as Germany's primary in 2002, Kahn was additionally given the honour of captaincy by supervisor Rudi Voller, along with his unparalleled ardour and perfectionism deemed the perfect mix to lead a nation with a level to show.
Grouped alongside Saudi Arabia, Republic of Ireland and Cameroon, the Germans' made gentle work of their opening video games, topping Group E after eight-zero and a couple of-zero wins in opposition to their Asian and African counterparts. Robbie Keane's late equaliser would show to be the one aim Kahn would concede prior to the ultimate, with the skipper giving a glimpse of the saves to come.
Nicknamed 'The Titan' all through his profession, Kahn would supply a trio of otherworldly performances in the forthcoming knockout video games en route to the ultimate in Yokohama, kicked off by a beautiful save to tip Paraguay's Jorge Campos' lengthy vary drive over the bar to assist protect a 1-zero win in the final 16.
The end result can be repeated in the quarter finals in opposition to the USA, overcoming the Young Player of the Tournament Landon Donovan in specific, with some good full size saves and essential blocks in one v. ones, which - together with a serving to hand from Torsten Frings - booked their place in the semi finals. A third consecutive 1-zero in opposition to co-hosts South Korea led Germany to their seventh World Cup closing.
Setting up a closing in opposition to the runners up of '98, Kahn and his teammates knew the scale of the duty, attempting to quell a free-scoring Brazil aspect boasting the likes of Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho, and for 67 minutes, that proved to be the case on the International Stadium.
Kahn and Germany annoyed a vibrant Selecao assault in a recreation that offered possibilities for each, prior to Ronaldo's opener. The German skipper checked out his imperious finest, snuffing out the eventual Golden Boot winner with an instinctive save in the primary interval, earlier than a block on the ft of Gilberto Silva in the second half led to Kahn sustaining finger ligament harm, simply minutes earlier than his fateful error.
A stalwart in the German defence, Kahn spilt a routine shot from Rivaldo in the 67th minute, leaving the predatory Ronaldo the reward of his seventh aim of match, in what was a merciless flip of destiny for a man who had been a cornerstone in his aspect's run to the ultimate. His eighth of the match and second of the sport was a scintillating Brazil at their finest, killing off any hopes of the World Cup staying in Europe, whereas a despondent Kahn was left to mirror on what might need been after the ultimate whistle.
A testomony to the person nevertheless, his feedback after spoke of somebody accepting duty of his mistake, however refused to use his harm as an excuse, stating:
"That has nothing to do with the goal. If you lose the final, you are always disappointed. It was the sole mistake in seven matches and it has been penalised. But it would be an absolute joke if everything was regarded as shit now. Now we are able to build on this success for 2006," which might be the backdrop for Kahn to name time on the worldwide stage.
Despite the blot of the fumble in the ultimate, Kahn's advantageous performances of 5 clear sheets and numerous saves in 2002 have been duly rewarded, incomes the coveted Lev Yashin Award for Goalkeeper of the Tournament, whereas much more considerably, he would obtain the Golden Ball to mark him as the perfect participant throughout the World Cup; a historic feat that no 'keeper had or since achieved.
Further recognition for the Bayern Hall of Fame inductee would comply with that 12 months alone with a place in the Team of the Tournament, one other second place end on the Ballon d'Or and a third IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper in what turned out to be the head of an illustrious profession,
While Kahn would add 4 extra Bundesliga titles and 4 home cups amongst a plethora of different trophies earlier than hanging up his gloves altogether in 2008, the watershed second of his Golden Ball award was a true verification of his craft.
To win such an accolade in opposition to the often accredited attacking abilities is a notion that may endlessly resonate all through the historical past of the World Cup and soccer usually. Always painted as an sincere, onerous-working particular person who mentioned:
"It’s difficult to reach the top if you don’t truly live out your profession and aren’t obsessed with wanting to improve yourself in every conceivable way." He would see his endeavour rightfully rewarded.