It was moment of great jubilation a and celebrations in Germany as the nation basked in World Cup glory again on Monday when the national team were honoured before attending the premiere of the official movie about their victory in Brazil In June.
President Joachim Gauck, joined by Chancellor Angela Merkel, awarded the players with the Silver Laurel Leaf, the country's highest sports award for what was Germany's fourth World Cup crown.
"All of us in Germany felt as if we were world champions," Gauck told the players before they received their awards.
"We can be happy that no one is envying our title and the world is happy with us."
Germany lifted the trophy after beating Argentina 1-0 in extra-time in the final following their historic 7-1 demolition of hosts Brazil in the semis.
The captain of the side Pilipp Lahm Said while addressing the audience at the Bellevue Palace "Many of us are not here for the first time," World Cup-winning captain
"But it is something special to have brought the trophy with us this time."
The 21 players who where present and coaches were then taken to another red-carpet occasion as the city celebrated 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall which eventually led to Germany's reunification.Andre Schuerrle and Julian Draxler missed out .
They attended the premiere of the "The Team", the movie detailing their run to the world title with inside glimpses into how the team lived the experience.
One of them was Thomas Mueller's trip and fall during a free kick in the knockout-stage win over Algeria. It was a routine practised over and over again by the Germans which just did not work right on the day.
But more than showing private moments of the players at their seaside camp in northern Brazil, the film highlighted the team spirit that was forged during the six weeks of preparations and competition.
Revenues from the movie will be used for charitable projects, the German Football Association (DFB) said.
Oma Akatugba writes from Berlin.
@omaakatugba
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