Pierluigi Collina Reveals Untold Story of His Intense Preparation for the 2002 World Cup Final

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Legendary Italian referee Pierluigi Collina has opened up about the extraordinary level of preparation that went into officiating the historic 2002 FIFA World Cup final between Brazil and Germany — a match still remembered for its intensity, drama, and global attention.

Speaking in a recently resurfaced interview, Collina disclosed that when he received the assignment to handle the final, he immediately requested full video footage of every match played by both teams. He said he isolated himself for “a day and a half,” meticulously studying patterns, behaviour, tactics, and player tendencies.

“I locked myself in my room for a day and a half, taking notes and watching every minute of every match,” Collina revealed. “The goal of a referee is to be one step ahead, to know what’s going to happen before it happens. At that time, it was quite unusual to prepare like that.”

His rigorous preparation, which was groundbreaking in 2002, has since become standard for elite refereeing worldwide. Collina said he takes pride in knowing that what was once seen as excessive has now become the modern benchmark for match officials at the highest level.

He also recounted the emotional moment the final whistle blew at the Yokohama International Stadium. The atmosphere, he said, was unforgettable.

“I still get goosebumps when I remember the crowd’s ovation. As soon as I blew the final whistle, I grabbed the ball to keep it as a souvenir. I still have it,” he recalled.

Collina, widely regarded as the greatest referee in football history, left an indelible mark on the sport — not only for his commanding presence on the pitch but also for reshaping how referees prepare for the biggest games on the global stage.