After an extremely close qualification, the start to the tournament was excellent. It became clear that this team was to be reckoned with. In the opening game, Germany swept the former co-favorite Yugoslavia off the field 4-1: A performance full of joy, efficiency and self-confidence. Players like Lothar Matthäus, Andreas Brehme and Jürgen Klinsmann carried the team on their shoulders, but in the background it was Franz who set the tone. He gave the players leeway, trusted them, but at the same time was uncompromising in his demands. “The team was fully behind him. He was an absolute strategist and always knew how to help us,” said Lothar Matthäus later about Franz's leadership.

The DFB team survived the preliminary round confidently, but they had to fight in the quarter and semi-finals. The tournament reached its dramatic climax in the semi-final against England in Turin. After 120 nerve-wracking minutes, the score was 1-1 and the penalty shoot-out had to decide. While the players were shaking, Beckenbauer stood almost motionless on the sidelines, hands in his pockets, seemingly unshakable. This image went around the world: The “Kaiser” as a rock in the surf, who strengthened his players with his calm. When the Englishmen Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle had a crush, it was clear that Germany was in the final.

English player Gary Lineker commented on the game with a phrase that has become famous: “Football is a simple game: 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win. ”

July 8, 1990 in Rome became a historic day. There, Germany met Argentina again. Franz knew that patience would be key. With stoic composure and a clear route, he let his team play patiently. In the 85th minute, Rudi Völler was fouled in the penalty area, Andreas Brehme turned the penalty ice-cold to 1:0. It was the golden goal that made Germany the world champion. Maradona only scored on goal once in the entire game — to no avail.

After the final whistle, one of the most iconic scenes in soccer history took place: While his players stormed onto the grass, Franz Beckenbauer stood alone on the sidelines, folded his hands, looking thoughtfully across the stadium. No cry of triumph, no grand gesture — but silent grandeur.

Franz Beckenbauer wrote soccer history with the 1990 title: After Mário Zagallo, he was only the second man to become world champion both as a player (1974) and as a coach/team boss (1990). For Germany, it was the last major title before reunification — and a masterpiece in Franz's career.