Germany's Miroslav Klose holds the World Cup trophy after the 2014 World Cup final against Argentina at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro July 13, 2014 [REUTERS/Eddie Keogh]Miroslav Klose rarely did things the easy way but was rewarded for his dogged determination with one of the most remarkable careers in world football. Yet he almost did not make it to the professional game and was the only member of the 2014 World Cup winning team not to have gone through the German Football Association’s youth system. The softly-spoken striker had again missed out on a major international title, having also lost the 2002 World Cup final and finished runners-up at the 2008 European Championship. However, he decided to give it another go, setting his sights on making the team for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Days later he lifted that elusive World Cup trophy into the evening sky in Rio de Janeiro to crown one of the game’s most remarkable careers that almost did not happen.

Source: Standard Digital June 08, 2020 06:00 UTC