The iconic World Cup trophy was damaged by German players during a wild celebration in Berlin recognizing the team's victory over Argentina in the soccer tournament finals earlier this month.
Germany, which built a reputation for its stout defense throughout the World Cup, could not do the same for the trophy once it returned home, chipping it during one of the celebrations,
ESPN reported Sunday.
"At one point, a small piece of our World Cup trophy was chipped off," German Football Federation President Wolfgang Niersbach said. "But do not worry! We have specialists on the case who can fix it. We have investigated persistently who it was that damaged the trophy, but the investigation was concluded without a result."
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The good news,
according to NBC Sports, is that the damaged trophy is a replica of the real World Cup trophy, which is valued at $10 million. That trophy remains locked in a vault.
"What Germany took home is a replica, made of bronze and plated with gold, rather than the solid gold cup that presumably sits behind locked gates and armed guards," wrote NBC Sports Kristen Schlewitz. "Still, you've got to imagine someone is feeling a bit sheepish right about now, as that trophy is a rather nice souvenir to be putting on display."
It's hardly the worst thing to have happened to an iconic soccer trophy. In 2011, Real Madrid star Sergio Ramos accidently dropped the Spanish Cup's Copa del Rey trophy during a celebration on top of a double-decker bus resulting in it being run over by the vehicle,
according to London's Daily News.
"The trophy appeared to be flattened, although Ramos … later claimed it was 'ok," the Daily Mail reported then. "Television pictures also appeared to show emergency services gathering up the broken pieces of the cup. Tellingly, it was also absent from the traditional celebration spot of the Plaza de Cibeles in central Madrid."
Germany's 1-0 victory over Argentina on July 13 was the country's fourth World Cup title. The Germans also won in 1954, 1974 and 1990.
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