Germany at the World Cup
Germany are traditionally a strong team in world football. They have been winners of the FIFA World Cup four times, playing as West Germany in 1954, 1974 and 1990, and as united Germany in 2014.
In 2006 and 2010 Germany finished third at the World Cup. They have reached the final eight times (4 wins, 4 runners-up). As one of the 2018 pre-tournament favorites, Germany crashed out in the group stage after defeats to Mexico and South Korea. The last time they failed to make it past the first hurdle of the tournament was in 1938. In 2022 in Qatar, Germany again crashed out in the group stage.
Trivia
- Germany is one of several teams that have been banned from participating at the World Cup. The German national football team was barred from the 1950 World Cup for their role in the Second World War.
- A Saarland national football team participated in the qualifying section of the 1954 FIFA World Cup, but failed to qualify after coming second to the West German team, but ahead of Norway. Saar existed from 1947 to 1956 in the Saarland, a part of Western Germany that was occupied in 1945 by France. Saarland rejoined Germany in 1957.
- German mid-fielder Stefan Effenberg was sent home early by coach Berti Vogts in USA 1994 after he gave the finger to a fan during a finals match. Effenberg was sent home immediately after the incident, and refused to rejoin the national squad from then on.
- Uwe Seeler of West Germany is one of three players to have scored in four successive finals tournaments (1958, 1962, 1966 and 1970). One of the others is German player Miroslav Klose (the other is that guy Pele).
- Paul Breitner of West Germany is one of three players to have scored in two World Cup finals - 1974 and 1982. The others are Vava of Brazil in 1958 and 1962, Pelé of Brazil 1958 and 1970.
Related Pages
- About the women's team from Germany at the FIFA Women's World Cup
- About when Germany Hosted the World Cup in 2006
- East Germany at the World Cup
- Saarland at the World Cup
- List of all countries who have participated in the World Cup
- Germany at the UEFA Euros
- About Sport in Germany
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