Philipp Lahm will never forget watching Lothar Matth?us lift the FIFA World Cup  with West Germany in Italia ’90. Twenty-four years later, it was Lahm’s turn to do the same in the iconic Maracan? Stadium as Germany defeated Argentina 1-0 in 2014. Same team, same score line, same result – Germany crowned world champions.
Speaking exclusively to www.sc.qa during Bayern Munich’s recent winter training camp in Doha, the Bayern Munich star reflected on the tournament that helped inspire him to become a FIFA World Cup winner.
Lahm said: “The first tournament I followed on TV was in 1990. I was just over six years old and Germany by chance also became World Champions. It was a very nice experience for me and one I think back to fondly. The games were outstanding and there were great characters in the German team, led by coach Franz Beckenbauer – the Kaiser.”
Lahm has been a key player for Bayern coach Pep Guardiola, who leaves the club at the end of this season after three years in Bavaria. The player widely regarded as one of the best full-backs in the game expressed sadness at the prospect of the Spaniard leaving, yet looked forward to working with another top coach in Carlo Ancelotti.
“I have had a lot of top coaches, from Germany like Hitzfeld, Magath, Heynckes, and international greats like Van Gaal, Pep Guardiola now and then another one coming in Carlo Ancelotti, who has won the Champions League on a number of occasions. So I definitely look forward to that, but on the other hand I have had and still have a very good time with Pep. We understand each other well and it is enjoyable to play under him. But I have been playing since I was six and players and coaches come and go, so it is a natural part of the way things go and you accept and respect these decisions.”
Lahm added that Bayern Munich will be looking to give Guardiola the perfect send off this summer, but pointed out that the treble was a difficult undertaking which has only been achieved once by a German side.  
He added: “The aim is to play successful football. For us that means that there should be titles at the end of the season. Anyone who knows FC Bayern and our history as well as our recent seasons knows we can play for the title in all competitions and win them. Our aim is always to go for the maximum and get all three titles, but we know how difficult that is.”
“A German team has only won the treble once for a reason, but in Qatar we had the conditions to prepare in the best possible way. It is still a long way. It is now January and in May the prizes will be handed out. Of course it would be perfect to go home with all three titles at the end of Guardiola’s time, we all have that aim.”
Looking forward to Bayern’s next tie in the Champions League against in-form Juventus, Lahm said that the German champions were still favourites to advance.
He stressed:  “It is a difficult draw because it is a team which was in the final of the Champions League last season, and to face them in the second round is not easy. Defensively they are very well organised, and they have great players who can make a difference. But I still think we are the favourites.”
Among the other sides in with a chance of European glory this season, Lahm counts defending champions Barcelona, Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid, and a side from France.
He said: “The Spanish teams will play a very big role again. Barcelona is leaving a very good impression, and they are also the defending champions, as are Real Madrid. Paris could also count to the favourites, but I think the Spaniards are the biggest challengers. All games now you need to play at your best and not show any weaknesses.”
Looking back at his decision to retire after the World Cup triumph in Brazil, the 32-year-old confessed he had no regrets about hanging up his boots. He won’t be in Qatar but that doesn’t mean Lahm won’t be fascinated watching the Middle East host the World Cup for the very first time.
“Now I enjoy watching the games and I wish them good luck, as will be the case in France next summer. Qatar 2022 is too far away for me.”  
Lahm also fondly remembered the last 60 seconds of extra time in Brazil, even though it was an excruciating wait at the time.
He explained: “I have been playing and watching football for such a long time and anything can happen in the final moments, so you really yearn for the final whistle. Leading 1-0 in the final in extra time, you just want him to blow the whistle. It was incredible relief when it was over, you let everything pass by that has happened with the national team over the past years, the bitter defeats. The two hours after the final whistle is the wonderful moment you share with colleagues and staff who have gone the journey with you for the past 10 years, that is unforgettable.”
The former Germany captain also looked forward to Qatar as a host nation, highlighting that sport has the power to unite people from different corners of the world.
He said: “There are great events here in Doha, in a few weeks the golf tournament will be here again. Two years ago it was nice to see the tennis live. When we train here there is always a lot of interest from the fans which is something nice. Football lives from the fans and from people coming together, and that is the most important thing – football unites the whole world. This is the positive power that the sport has, and I hope it will be the same at the World Cup in Qatar in 2022. People will come together, have a nice festival, and I think this is what football can do.”
Lahm concluded by saying that despite criticism which Bayern Munich has faced in Germany, the best way to deal with issues was to engage in dialogue.
“I always believe it is best to come to a place and talk about things. What we experience in our own countries, what it is like in other places, the most important thing is that you talk about things. You will not be able to change anything by staying at home and not talking about it. I think that is the most important thing, and Bayern Munich does that again and again. Qatar is not the topic, but it is many topics that Bayern Munich openly communicated about on critical issues and that is very important.”