Updated on March 26, 2024, 7:09 a.m
The Italian defender Tarcisio Burgnich (r) consoles the German defender Karl-Heinz Schnellinger (l) after the 3:4 defeat in the 1970 World Cup semi-final. © dpa / dpa/dpa
Karlheinz Schnellinger is one of the legends of German football. Nevertheless, the soon-to-be 85-year-old will not be watching the European Championships in Germany. Schnellinger only has critical words for the DFB.
Former national player Karlheinz Schnellinger will not come to Germany for the European Football Championship. The soon-to-be 85-year-old Schnellinger told the German Press Agency. “The last time I was there was a year or two ago. I hardly know anyone there anymore.” The Rhineland native still lives near Milan. On Easter Sunday (March 31st) he celebrated his 85th birthday there: with his wife, three daughters, Italian sons-in-law and four grandchildren. “It always seems to me as if I’m a foreigner in Germany – and in Italy too,” he says.
Harsh words towards the DFB
Schnellinger doesn’t particularly speak well of the German Football Association (DFB). “It’s going haywire with them. It’s just a big deal,” he says and believes. “They forgot me.” Schnellinger will therefore “watch the European Championships in Germany on TV. At home.” So in Italy.
In the so-called game of the century in the Aztec Stadium on June 17, 1970, Schnellinger, who was already playing for AC Milan, scored 1-1 shortly before the end of the World Cup semi-final against Italy and saved Germany in extra time. “The Italians will say Schnellinger of all people,” commented ARD reporter Ernst Huberty at the time. And in disbelief, he added: “Schnellinger, of all people.”
In the end, the Italians won the semi-finals 4-3. In the final there was a 1:4 defeat against Brazil. (dpa/ska)
“This is how the editorial team works” informs you when and what we report on, how we deal with errors and where our content comes from. When reporting, we adhere to the guidelines of Journalism Trust Initiative.
2024-03-26 06:09:34
#World #Cup #hero #Schnellinger #DFB #forgotten
