Goosebump moments from 2003
World Cup heroines celebrate emotional reunion
6/24/2023, 6:41 p.m
The soccer world champions of 2003 celebrate an emotional reunion almost 20 years after their triumph in the USA. It was an experience, “that connects us forever,” says final heroine Nia Künzer. The scenes from back then still give you goosebumps.
The 2003 World Champions met on the campus of the German Football Association (DFB) for the 20th anniversary of their title. In the run-up to the current team’s friendly against Vietnam, almost 15 players and some members of the coaching and support staff at the time traveled to Frankfurt to meet again. It was the first World Cup title for the DFB players, the second followed four years later with coach Silvia Neid in China with a 2-0 win in the final against Brazil. “It’s really nice to see everyone again,” said 59-year-old Neid, who assisted Theune in 2003. At the upcoming World Cup in Australia and New Zealand (July 20th to August 20th) Martina Voss-Tecklenburg hopes for the third World Cup success.
Germany won the World Cup in the USA in 2003, Nia Künzer scored the golden goal in the 2-1 final against Sweden. “It’s a very, very nice day,” Künzer told the sports information service on campus: “Moments keep coming up. I haven’t seen some for a really long time. In a way, the World Cup connects us forever. I’m always happy , the golden goal sequence and the celebration pictures. Stories come up off the pitch too. Those are goosebumps moments that put a smile on your face.”
She also gets “goosebumps again and again” from the video sequences of the winning goal, emphasized assist provider Renate Lingor: “It’s very emotional, everyone is just grinning.” There is “a lot to tell,” says goalkeeper Silke Rottenberg, “all the memories come up. Something like that stays in your heart, this story stays. Once a national player, always a national player. Once a world champion, always a world champion.”
“We were a tight-knit community back then,” Theune explained the secret of the team’s success, who benefited from Künzer’s brilliant moment in the final. “I don’t think anyone can hear that anymore,” said the shooter of her header, which was later voted Goal of the Year 2003. “We talk about a lot of other things. For example, we did the analysis on the video recorder back then.” After the meeting on campus, the 2003 world champions traveled to Offenbach to watch Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s current team play. Before kick-off, there will be a small tribute on the lawn of the stadium on Bieberer Berg.