Steven Petrov
The Paw Print
This rubric has been looking closely at some of the major football (soccer) names on the International scene, their previous performances, best players, and future expectations for the upcoming Mundial next summer. Having already talked about teams like “Selesao” (Brazil), “Squadra Azzura” (Italy), and “La Furia Roja” (Spain) last week, Germany is the next “Big Contender” who will be thoroughly examined throughout this article.
“Die Mannaschaft” as the Germans are regularly called, is always under the spotlight in every tournament that it participates. Having won three World Cup titles and three European Championships Germany has established itself as “the powerhouse” of Europe when it comes to winning football trophies. Germany’s history within the World Cup competition is a little bit different than any other country, due to the separation of states after the World War II into West and East Germany. Players from the East were not allowed to play for the more successful Western part of the country. This definitely was a drawback for the development of both individual players, and the Germany’s national team. Instead of having all of the country’s best players on one team competing for the same goal, there were two separate teams, which would have definitely won more trophies if combined. However, the first major success for the Germans had come after this famous separation, and it was at the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland. Barely making it out of their group, by winning only 2 points out of 3 games, “Die Mannaschaft” beat Yugoslavia at the quarterfinal with 2:0, then “destroyed” Austria at the semifinal with 6:1, and went on beating Hungary with 3:2 at the final. That was West Germany’s first major international title, which “unfortunately” for the Germans was won at a time when the phenomenal team of Brazil was forming, with Pele, Garrincha, Nilto Santos etc. The “Selesao” was about to dominate the World scene in the following 8 years, by winning 2 consecutive World Cup titles leaving no place for either of the two German states among the top teams. However, the more successful of the two German teams, West Germany reached another World Cup final in 1966, only to lose to England with 4:2 after an extra time period. Twenty years had to pass from 1954 to 1974 before West Germany won the trophy again. Having been chosen as the host of the 1974 World Cup 4 years earlier, the Germans had enough time to focus, form a really solid team, and generally prepare for the Mundial. Bringing “star” players selection with names like the best goalkeeper in the national’s team history, Sepp Maier, as well as one of the best defenders in the world at that time and the country’s captain, Franz Beckenbauer, and the top goal scorer of all time for the German national team, Gerd Muller, “Die Mannaschaft” had the best possible foundation for success. After beating Yugoslavia (2:0), Sweden (4:2), and Poland (1:0) West Germany reached the final where they faced the Dutchmen led by their captain and best player Johan Cruyff. “The Flying Dutchmen” (the Netherlands) scored first in the 2nd minute after being awarded a penalty, but then an equalizer scored in the 25th minute by Paul Breitner and a winning goal by Gerd Muller later in the 1st half (43rd minute) turned the game around and gave West Germany’s second World Cup title.
The 12 years from 1974 to 1986 would turn out to be extremely “painful” for the West Germany’s team by losing two consecutive World Cup finals in 1982 and 1986. By losing to Italy in 1982 with 3:1 and to Argentina in 1986 with 3:2, “Die Mannaschaft” failed to win their third World Cup title. However, “Die Mannaschaft” managed to reach a third consecutive final 4 years later in Italy (1990), setting a record at that time for most amount of consecutive World Cup finals played. With a 1:0 win over Argentina, the Germans won their, 3rd and last, trophy in the tournament.
Germany’s national team is by far the team with the most amounts of medals (gold, silver, or bronze) won from the World Cup competitions. In 11 out of the last 14 World Cups Germany (either West Germany, or Germany after 1991) has won the gold, silver, or bronze medals. This is truly impressive in terms of consistency, quality of performance, and great tournament experience. Finishing 3rd in the last two Mundials, “Die Mannaschaft” will most likely be one of the top 3 teams in the upcoming tournament in Brazil, but for a team like Germany being 3rd or 2nd is never enough. The European Powerhouse, for great tournament performance, will definitely try to win the trophy that it has been dreaming of ever since 1990.
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