FIFA.com: Winning the FIFA World Cup in 1974 must have been the pinnacle of your footballing career. What was the atmosphere like in Germany at the time?
Wolfgang Overath: It was actually my third World Cup. The first was in England in 1966, when I was still a young player, followed by my second in 1970 in Mexico and then the third in Germany. Obviously, winning the World Cup rates as the greatest triumph, although we'd just finished second and third - it was an incredibly successful period for German football. You could say that the best World Cup was Mexico, but our most successful was in Germany. We were among the favourites, playing on home turf and we probably took things too easily at the start. Afterwards, we played better and things worked out for us.

What was the mood like in the country at the time?
It was a long, long time ago. In Germany too, we were seen as one of the top teams who would be fighting it out with the Dutch and the Brazilians for the World Cup. At the beginning, we had a few problems in the wake of our defeat by East Germany, but then we pulled ourselves together and everything fell into place.

Which was the key match that ultimately shaped the outcome of the tournament?
I'd say the game against East Germany showed us it wouldn't be as easy as we thought. That defeat was a rude awakening for us. I think we regrouped and realised it was all about running and battling hard, and if we could play well too, we'd be in with a good chance.

What are your memories of the Final at the Olympic Stadium in Munich, when you conceded such an early goal?
The atmosphere was fantastic. The only drawback was that the crowd was so far away, but they were so enthusiastic and they really gave us a lift. We fell behind early on, but then we took the lead. The match had everything for the people at the stadium that day. I think it was one of the classic matches of that time, in terms of the atmosphere and sheer enthusiasm.

What did you feel when you heard the final whistle? Had you been longing for it, did it come as a relief?
It enabled me to bow out on a high. I'd earned over 80 caps, although I was only 30 and could have played for another three or four years. That said, I'd been through a sticky spell leading up to the World Cup in Germany. In the past we'd only been runners-up or finished third, and my greatest desire was to win the World Cup. The runners-up and teams who finish third and fourth are quickly forgotten, no matter how well they played. But you don't forget the winners - the World Cup is the greatest achievement in a footballer's career. That was my ultimate goal, but I was also determined to retire at the very top. In those last few minutes the final whistle just wouldn't come, and the Dutch team were incredibly strong.

Did you realise what you'd achieved at once, or did it take a few days to sink in?
If you've already played in two World Cups, you don't take long to appreciate what's happened. I knew at once that we'd made it. The best thing I could think of was to retire just after winning a World Cup.

How did you feel, standing there and lifting the Cup into the air for the first time?
It was overwhelmingly emotional, I couldn't really thing about anything. There was certainly a level of personal satisfaction, because many people felt I wasn't in good enough form to appear at a third World Cup, even though I'd already played two great tournaments. But just like the first two World Cups, I played all our matches and we hit our target. That gives you a real sense of inner satisfaction.

Gunter Netzer once said in an interview that Wolfgang Overath was born to play for Germany.
We were both playmakers, out-and-out playmakers. The problem was finding room for two such similar players in one team. We both used to try and dictate the game. We both tried. We remain close friends to this day and stay in close contact, and chat a lot on the phone. If you think about it, that's a wonderful story. We were rivals on the pitch but got on really well as friends away from the game. Gunter always did his best, but was just unlucky that when I came back onto the scene he didn't get another chance because we were winning. If we'd lost a game or two he'd have had his chance, especially as he was improving all the time, both in the tournament and in training.

Here's a little piece of history, it probably feels like a long time ago?
(Holding the Trophy) What am I supposed to do with it?

Just tell us what memories the Trophy conjures up as you hold it in your hands.
I competed for it three times and won it once, we were runners-up once and we came third once. For a footballer, there's nothing better than playing in a team that wins the World Cup. Football isn't an individual sport, it's a team game. We succeeded, and our achievement will stand forever. That's why it's so fantastic.

Jurgen Kohler once complained that you can't drink out of it. What would you say about it in aesthetic terms?
Well, I'm not a drinker, so I have no reason to try. No, it's a terrific cup, and I think it's very, very beautiful. Even if it wasn't beautiful, it would still be a very important symbol.