Germany

Team Overview

Germany National Football Team or Die Nationalef (The National Eleven) is one of the most successful nations in World’s football. Germany has 16 participations in the FIFA World Cups with 3 titles (1954, 1974 and 1990) and 9 participations in the European Championship also with 3 titles (1976, 1980 and 1996). After the World War II the country was divided in East and West and they competed separately until 1990. During that period The Germany Football Association controlled the West Germany Football Team.

History

Early Years

In 1908 Germany played its first official match. The game was against Switzerland and the Germans lost 5-3. As there were no coach for the team at that time, the players were selected by the German Football Association. Otto Nerz, a school teacher, became the first Germany National Team coach. He stayed in the position for 13 years, from 1923 to 1936.

Germany didn’t participate in the first FIFA World Cup in 1930 because of financial difficulties to travel to Uruguay. But in 1934 when Italy hosted the tournament, the German team finished in third place.

With the rising of the Nazi Party and after Austria became part of Germany in 1938 a great number of Austrian players were ordered to join the German side to partcipate in the World Cup that year. With a 5-3 aggregate score the Swiss team knocked out the “united” Germany in the first round of the competition which is up to now one of the worst performances of a German team in a FIFA World Cup.

World War II Years

Between 1939 and 1942 the German team played over 30 international games. With many players being forced to join the armed forces, coach Sepp Herberger, with the help of an Air Force Officer, got the team together in an attempt to protect the players from the dangers of the military service.

After the war Germany was banned from most sports competition and the Football Team didn’t participate in the 1950 World Cup in Brazil.

Back to the Game in Great Style

In 1954 Germany returned to the World Cup. To assure its participation the team had to beat Norway and Saarland, a newborn German nation created after the Second World War (Saarland lasted from 1947 to 1956 and in 1957 it merged with the Federal Republic of Germany) The Germans played well during the entire competition and got to the final to face the incredible Hungary of Hidegkuti, Kocsis and Puskas. Die Nationalelf beat the favorites Hungarians and Germany won its first FIFA World Cup.

West Germany and East Germany

West Germany is how the Federal Republic of German was commonly known. That’s because in 1949 a new socialist country was founded in the Soviet part of Germany in the eastern region. East Germany then created, in 1952, its own Football Association and an internal rivalry was created between the sister nations.

The 1974 FIFA World Cup played in West Germany was the high point of this rivalry. East Germany was the only team that beat the team would win that competition. West Germany.

In 1976 East Germany won the Gold Medal in the football tournament of the Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada. And in 1990 the country was reunified.

The Battle of Wembley

In 1966 Germany went to the FIFA World Cup in England with a renovated team. The Bundesliga was created to bring professionalism to the country’s football. Sepp Herberger was replaced after 28 years as the teams coach by Helmut Schon. Germany was determined to win the competition after being almost there in the two previous editions.

The German team made it to the final match after eliminating the Soviet Union in the semis. The opponent would be England, the hosts of the tournament.

Almost 100,000 people saw Helmut Haller score the first goal for Germany in a powerful shot from outside the box at minute 12. But it took only six minutes for West Ham striker Geoff Hurst to make things even with a powerful header.

Two more goals in the second half, one for each side but this time England scored first. At minute 78 Martin Peters drove the British fans at the Wembley Stadium crazy but Wolfgang Werber’s goal in the last minute force to the teams to play an extra time.

Two more goals in the second half, one for each side but this time England scored first. At minute 78 Martin Peters drove the British fans at the Wembley Stadium crazy but Wolfgang Werber’s goal in the last minute force to the teams to play an extra time.

Controversy in the first half of extra time as Geoff Hurst took a shot that hit the crossbar and bounced back on the goal line. Swiss referee Gottfried Dienst, after consulting his linesman, confirmed the goal under the protest of the Germans. Hurst would still score another goal in the last minute of extra time to confirm English’s victory in the 1966 World Cup.

The Match of the Century

Revenge would come 4 years later in the quarterfinals of the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. After being down by two goals Germany came back and sent the English Team back home. The 3-2 victory would take the Germans to the face Italy in the semifinals in what is until today known as “the match of the century”.

The Italian team had showed a disciplined defense allowing only one goal in the tournament until that match and the Germans with 13 goals scored were the best offense of the World Cup.

Die Nationalelf had Sepp Meyer, Berti Vogts, Gerd Muller and the maestro, Franz Beckenbauer leading the team.

Playing for more the one hundred thousand spectators in the Estadio Azteca the Germans were surprised when, at minute 8, striker Roberto Boninsegna scored the first goal. The eqlalizer only came in the last minute of regular time with Karl-Heinz Schnellinger. Germany would, once again, decide its future in a World Cup in the extra time.

Gerd Muller socred Germany’s second goal at the 4th minute of the first half of extra time. But Italy score twice with Tarcisio Burgnich and Gigi Riva respectively. Germany had already used all their substitutions and Franz Beckenbauer continued on the pitch even though he had a fractured clavicle.

On the 5th minute of the second half of extra time Gerd Muller scored again to tie the match but Gianni Rivera’s goal one minute later would put an end on Germany’s hope to win its second World Cup.

A Streak of Success – 1972-1980

Under the captaincy of Franz Beckenbauer Germany won their first European Nations Championship in 1972 beating the URSS in the final with a sound 3-0. Two years later the country would host the 10th FIFA World Cup. The German team got to the final against the Netherlands and won their second World Cup.

In 1980 with coach Jupp Derwall, Germany won their second European Championship beating Belgium 2-1.

Third Titles

In 1990 Germany had Franz Beckenbauer as the coach with a mission. To get their third world title after 2 consecutive 2 places (1982 and 1986). And even though the team didn’t perform the most beautiful football the Germans achieved their goal and defeated Argentina in the final with a goal scored by Andreas Brehme in a penalty kick.

The third European Championship came in the Euro 96. Germany beat England, the host nation, in the final on penalty kicks and along with the title there was a true feeling of revenge 30 years after the 1966 World Cup final in Wembley.

Euro 2008

After an even unexpected 3rd place in the 2006 World Cup played in home grounds Germany is set to fight for their fourth continental title. The team counts on coach Joachim Low and players like Michael Ballack, Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski. Germany qualified for the final tournament in second place in Group D behind Czech Republic but with the most positive offense with 35 goals, 8 scored by Podolski.

For the Final Tournament of the Euro 2008, Germany was seeded in the Group B along with Poland, Croatia and hosts Austria.

Stars of the Current Squad

Philipp Lahm

• Date of Birth: November 11, 1983
• Position: Defensive
• Height: 170cm

A player that can tackle the striker in a 100% clean way and at the same time transforms his crosses into assists. That is Philipp Lahm, a single player nowadays, a left back that is as great in defense as he is in the offensive side of the field. Lahm was spotted at a school tournament. He joined Bayern Munchen and then got some experience in a two year loan to Stuttgart. After that he became a starter for both the National Team and Bayern Munchen.

Torsten Frings

• Date of Birth: November 22, 1976
• Position: Midfielder
• Height: 182cm

He is the soul of Germany`s midfield. He fights for the ball in his own side of the field but once he has it, he can quickly start the play. His miss against Italy in the semifinal of last World Cup is often connected to the Italian victory, as the host team lost their most competitive and active player during the whole game.

Miroslav Klose

• Date of Birth: June 9, 1978
• Position: Striker
• Height: 182cm

The man was born to play the World Cup. In two appearances, he scored 10 goals. He is the first in history to score 5 or more goals in consecutive WCs. The polish born player is the kind of striker Germany always can count in as his average is almost 0.5 goals per game as an international. After playing for Homburg, Kaiserslautern and Werder Bremen, he joined this season Bayern Munich.

Team Legends

Beckenbauer

• Full Name: Franz Anton Beckenbauer
• Date of Birth: September 11, 1945 (1972-08-30)
• Position: Sweeper
• Caps: 103
• Goals: 14

Gerd Müller

• Full Name: Gerhard Muller
• Date of Birth: November 3, 1945 (1945-11-03)
• Position: Striker
• Caps: 62
• Goals: 68

Rummenigge

• Full Name: Kral-Heinz Rummenigge
• Date of Birth: September 25, 1955
• Position: Forward
• Caps: 95
• Goals: 45

Breitner

• Full Name: Paul Breitner
• Date of Birth: September 5, 1951 (1951-09-05)
• Position: Midfielder
• Caps: 48
• Goals: 10

Rudi Voller

• Full Name: Rudolf Voller
• Date of Birth: April 13, 1960 (1960-04-13) (1951-09-05)
• Position: Striker
• Caps: 90
• Goals: 47

Matthaus

• Full Name: Lothar Herbert Matthaus
• Date of Birth: March 21, 1961 (1960-04-13) (1951-09-05)
• Position: Midfielder/Sweeper
• Caps: 150
• Goals: 23

Klinsmann

• Full Name: Jurgen Klinsmann
• Date of Birth: July 30, 1964 (1960-04-13) (1951-09-05)
• Position: Striker
• Caps: 108
• Goals: 47

Oliver Kahn

• Full Name: Oliver Rolf Kahn
• Date of Birth: June 15, 1969 (1960-04-13) (1951-09-05)
• Position: Goalkeeper
• Caps: 86

Most International Matches Played

Most Appearances

Most Goals

Player Recognition & Awards

Team Honours

UEFA Euro - European Championship

• Three Times Champions: 1976, 1980, 1996

FIFA World Cup

• Three Times Champions: 1954, 1974, 1990

Management

Head Coach: Joachim Low

He was named coach for Germany just three days after the World Cup. He was an assistant to Jurgen Klinsmann and the former coach used to say Low influence in the team tactic and training was huge. Different from Klinsmann, Low already has some experience as a coach with teams like Stuttgart and Fenerbahce.

Uniforms

Important Links

• http://www.dfb.de/index.php?id=137 (Official Site)

References

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_national_football_team
• http://www.dfb.de