There is no bigger spectacle in sports than the World Cup final. Fans of every nation dream of their team playing in one, but most of them don't get that luxury. Germans, however, can boast going to two finals in this century alone and winning one, hosting another, and winning four World Cups in total -- second to only Brazil's five.
It isn't a great shock, then, to find out that Cavalry FC duo Nicolas Wähling and Tobias Warschewski have great memories of growing up watching Die Mannschaft.
"2014 in Brazil of course, the final, Götze’s goal, but also the famous 7-1 in the semi-final against Brazil," Wähling listed as his favourite World Cup memories, as expected. "[Cavalry's] kitman actually is Brazilian and sometimes I like giving him a hard time about that game.
"The World Cup I remember the most is probably 2006 in Germany, same as the Euros last year, just crazy atmosphere. Everybody out on the streets, all the public viewings. I never managed to go to a game, but you didn't have to, because the atmosphere was everywhere. I remember 2002 a bit. I know that Germany lost the final against Brazil, Ronaldo scored twice I think. I remember the final, being sad that they lost, but 2006 is very present."
Wähling, who is half English through his mother's side of the family, said he cheers for both nations, admitting that he wanted England to go through when the sides met in the 2010 World Cup quarter-finals -- a match ultimately won by the Germans in controversial circumstances.
"They got the Lampard goal but they got robbed, the ball was about a metre behind the line," Wähling recalled. "I own a lot of England jerseys as well, and I know here I'm always ‘the German’, but I'm also very, very proud of being English, and I support them just as much as the Germany team. Recently, I've had a lot of interest in the German national team as the coach [Julian] Nagelsmann used to be my coach in Hoffenheim and I had a close relationship with him when he was my coach, of course.
"I support both teams, and every time I hope they both make it to the final and that I can then just watch. Whoever wins, that's the jersey I'm going to wear in the evening," he added with a laugh.
In addition to the 2006 World Cup, Germany also hosted the 2024 European Championship -- welcoming the world into the country both times in the same way Canada, Mexico and the United States will next year.
"When a World Cup comes, it's a different feeling, and I think all the nations come together and just enjoy the time," Warschewski said. "Everybody is together, supports the same team; it's different than supporting the Cavs. Everybody may be rivals but when Canada plays, or Germany plays, everybody's on the same page.
"Having a World Cup at home, all the nationalities, what you see in different cities, I feel good vibes, I feel like the World Cup is all about vibes, it's just amazing to see. It is a friendly way where everybody is like ‘Okay, we'll shake hands and have a good time afterwards’. On the pitch is probably a little bit different, it's more intense, but it's just a good time.
And the biggest men's competition in the sport coming to Canada for the first time?
"I think it's very special," Warschewski said. "I think [the Canadian national team] are doing very well at the moment, and I feel like at the end of the day you want to grow the sport in the country and this is a way to do it."
A few years before coming to Canada, Warschewski had the opportunity to represent Germany on the international stage at the U19 level, and even scored against eventual champions England at the European Under-19 Championship in 2017.
"It's a special feeling playing for your country," he said proudly. "It's a very different experience to playing at club level, it’s difficult to describe even how you felt in that moment. A little bit nervous, kind of excited, every bit of emotion comes a little bit, but when the game starts you kind of lock in and try to give your best for your country."
Warschewski and Wähling have been living together since the latter arrived in Canada last July. Even though they disagree on some things -- Wähling is a Bayern Munich fan and Warschewski supports bitter rivals Borussia Dortmund -- they both emphasized how special it is to live with a compatriot who can speak the same primary language as them.
Competitive on and off the pitch, the pair regularly go head-to-head in the EA FC video games, and recently -- for the first time ever -- it was Wähling who came out on top. Warschewski has been the king of scoring goals in the Canadian Premier League in the past year-and-a-half, but his video game reign might just be coming to an end.
"I think we're both much funnier in German than in English," Wähling said with a smile. "I think we might get on our teammates' nerves sometimes in English, but if they heard us in German, they'd actually think we're really funny. We spend nearly every minute of every day together, play a lot of games and enjoy the Canadian lifestyle a lot. We like it here a lot, and we're very happy we can experience it together.
"We didn't really know each other from Germany, then we became teammates, roommates, and now really close friends and I think we just have an amazing time together. I'm very happy that we have each other."
Being so far away from home has its challenges for any player. Wähling says on off days he used to travel back to his hometown to spend time with his friends and family, but now a ten-hour flight keeps them apart. Several Cavs players meet up regularly on off days to find things to do, which builds bonds and chemistry that they will never forget.
Warschewski, who did not speak much English when he first came to the CPL in 2021 with FC Edmonton and struggled at times off the pitch as a result, echoed those sentiments.
"We leave all our friends and family behind and you rely on your teammates, and I feel like you have very special bonds together and a special connection day in and day out," said Warschewski. "We hang out, and it's just a fun time. We do want to experience Canada on the pitch, but also off the pitch, and I feel like this is what we try to do.
"I need to have a smile on my face to perform, this is how I've been since I'm young, and I need to enjoy football to play it."
Warschewski has certainly enjoyed his football over the past 18 months since coming back to Alberta to join the Cavs. He won the CPL's Golden Boot in his first season in Calgary, scored in the semi-final and CPL Final as Cavalry won the playoff title for the first time, and carried that momentum into 2025 so far.
Wähling has recently scored his first goals for the club as well, playing several positions effectively for Tommy Wheeldon Jr's side, and the Cavs are flying as they look to add to their 2024 North Star Cup -- which for Warschewski was the first trophy he had ever won in his career.
"Things like that you will never forget in your life, winning things," Warschewski said, pausing to reflect on the legacy the club has been building in Canadian soccer. "You probably have seasons where you also had a very good season, but winning a thing, you go in history with the club.
"In 20 years when I'm retired, hopefully somewhere on the beach and looking back at that and maybe telling my kids ‘I won with this club back then’, I'm in history there, it’s special."
