Historic streak broken: For the first time since 1978, no Bayern pro in the World Cup final | OneFootball

An extraordinary run for FC Bayern has come to an end. Following Harry Kane’s elimination with England in the semifinals, for the first time since the 1978 World Cup, no current player from Germany’s record-holding champion will be in the World Cup final.

The dream of a World Cup title has been dashed for all FC Bayern players. As the last remaining Munich player, Harry Kane and the English national team fell to defending champion Argentina in the semifinals.

The Three Lions were defeated 1–2 in a dramatic match. Earlier, Michael Olise and Dayot Upamecano had already been eliminated with France following a 0–2 loss to Spain.

This means one thing is certain: No current FC Bayern player will be on the field for Sunday’s final between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford.

For the first time since 1978, no Bayern pro will be in the World Cup final

This hasn’t happened in nearly half a century. The last time a World Cup final took place without a Bayern player was in 1978. Back then, Argentina defeated the Netherlands on home soil.

Since the 1982 World Cup in Spain, FC Bayern has been represented by at least one active player in every subsequent final. This extraordinary streak spanned eleven tournaments and more than four decades.

It all began in 1982 with Paul Breitner, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, and Wolfgang Dremmler, who reached the final against Italy with the German national team. Four years later, Lothar Matthäus, Dieter Hoeneß, and Norbert Eder were on the field for the 2–3 loss to Argentina.

In 1990, Germany finally won the World Cup title. With Klaus Augenthaler, Stefan Reuter, Jürgen Kohler, Hans Pflügler, and Raimond Aumann, no fewer than five Bayern professionals were part of the world champions’ squad.

Seven Munich Players in the 2014 World Cup Triumph

In the decades that followed, the German record champions continued to be represented in every final. Jorginho won the title with Brazil in 1994, and Bixente Lizarazu triumphed with France four years later.

In 2002, Oliver Kahn, Thomas Linke, Jens Jeremies, and Carsten Jancker reached the final with Germany against Brazil. In 2006, Willy Sagnol represented Munich’s colors on the French team, before Mark van Bommel, Arjen Robben, and Edson Braafheid lost the 2010 final against Spain with the Netherlands.

The highlight from Bayern’s perspective was the 2014 World Cup. In Germany’s victory over Argentina, seven Munich players—Philipp Lahm, Toni Kroos, Thomas Müller, Mario Götze, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Jérôme Boateng, and Manuel Neuer—were part of the DFB squad.

Götze scored the decisive goal in extra time to make it 1–0, thereby capping off a strong performance by the Bayern contingent.

Kane Can’t Save the Streak

In 2018, Corentin Tolisso kept the streak alive with France. In the 2022 final against Argentina, Dayot Upamecano, Benjamin Pavard, and Kingsley Coman were part of the French squad.

Four years later, it was ultimately up to Kane, Olise, and Upamecano to continue the historic streak. After France’s elimination in the semifinals, the English captain was Munich’s last hope.

But even Kane couldn’t save the streak. The 1-2 loss to Argentina brings an end to a remarkable Bayern tradition that had lasted since 1982.

For the first time since the 1978 final, FC Bayern will thus be nothing more than a spectator in a World Cup final.