The European Championship is set to begin on June 14th. - Memorable Tribute to Franz Beckenbauer
Sadly, Franz Beckenbauer (born 1945) won't be around to see the European Championship 2024 in Germany. But he might still make a meaningful appearance during Friday's (14th June) opening ceremony in Munich - at least, his wife Heidi Beckenbauer will. As per reports from UEFA sources, she's set to carry the EM Cup before Germany's match against Scotland at 9 p.m., aired on ZDF. There'll be a video tribute for Franz too.
Heidi won't be alone; she'll be accompanied by two legendary footballers, Bernard Dietz (76), who captained the winning team in 1980's European Championship, and Jürgen Klinsmann (59), who led the victorious team in 1996's European Championship.
This touching idea, expected to stir emotions in the Munich arena, originated from the EURO 2024 GmbH, a joint venture between the German Football Association (DFB) and UEFA. When they asked if she'd be up for this task, Heidi Beckenbauer instantly agreed.
Feared writer Franz Beckenbauer died on 7th January at age 78 in Salzburg, Austria, where he resided since 2005. A native of Munich, he was a beloved figure in German football. His biggest sporting accomplishments involved the national team, for which he served as captain between 1971. After snagging the European Championship in 1972, he led Germany to win the 1974 World Cup. Following his successful coaching stint, he clinched another World Cup title with Italy in 1990.
