East Germany national football team

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Template:Short description Template:About Template:Expand German Template:Infobox National football team

The East Germany national football team, recognised as Germany DR by FIFA, represented East Germany in men's international football, playing as one of three post-war German teams, along with Saarland and West Germany.

East Germany qualified for the World Cup once, doing so in 1974, and after German reunification in 1990, the Deutscher Fußball Verband der DDR (DFV, Template:Langx), and with it the East German team, joined the Deutscher Fußball Bund (DFB) and the West Germany national football team that had just won the World Cup.

History

In 1949, before East Germany (GDR) was founded and while regular private clubs were still banned under Soviet occupation, efforts were made to play football anyway. Helmut Schön coached selections of Saxony and the Soviet occupation zone before moving to the West. On 6 February 1951, the GDR applied for FIFA membership, which was protested against by the German Football Association, which was already a full member. FIFA accepted the GDR association (later called DFV) on 6 October 1951 as a provisional member and on 24 July 1952 as a full member.

The first international game, not competitive but rather a display of goodwill, took place on 21 September 1952 against Poland in Warsaw, losing 3–0 in front of a crowd of 35,000. The first home game was on 14 June 1953 against Bulgaria, a 0–0 draw in front of a crowd of 55,000 at Heinz-Steyer-Stadion in Dresden. Only three days later, the Uprising of 1953 in East Germany would have prevented the permitted assembly of that many Germans. On 8 May 1954 games resumed, with a 1–0 loss against Romania. The East Germans had not even considered entering the World Cup which was won by the West Germans two months later. This caused much euphoria not only in the West, and the GDR tried to counter this by abandoning their policy of presenting a group of politically reliable socialist role models of their "new German state"; instead, players were selected purely according to ability. The GDR entered the qualification for the WC 1958 and were hosts to Wales on 19 May 1957 at the Zentralstadion in Leipzig. 500,000 tickets were requested, and officially 100,000 were admitted, but 120,000 in the crowded house witnessed a 2–1 victory.

Line-up at attention for the first-ever World Cup finals match

East Germany qualified for one major tournament in its history, the 1974 World Cup. That tournament was staged in West Germany, and both German teams were drawn in the same group in the first round. With successful games against Chile and Australia, both German teams had qualified early for the second round, with the inter-German game determining first and second in the group. Despite this lack of pressure to succeed, the match on 22 June 1974 in Hamburg was politically and emotionally charged.Template:According to whom East Germany beat West Germany 1–0, thanks to a goal by Jürgen Sparwasser. The GDR lost to Brazil and the Netherlands, but secured 3rd place in a final game draw with Argentina. On the other hand, the DFB team changed its line-up after the loss and went on to win all games in the other second round group B, against Yugoslavia, Sweden, and Poland, and the World title against the Netherlands.

East Germany nearly secured qualification for the 1990 World Cup, needing only a draw versus Austria in Vienna in their final group match on 15 November 1989 to achieve a place in Italy. Toni Polster scored three times as Austria won 3–0 and advanced to the finals instead.

The GDR took part in the draw for the qualification for the European Championship 1992 and was drawn in Group 5 together with the FRG, Belgium, Wales, and Luxembourg. On 3 October 1990 Germany was re-unified and with them their football teams. The scheduled matches of the East German team were canceled, except for two matches. The match against Belgium was converted into a friendly match on 12 September 1990, in Brussels. It was the last match played by the East Germany national team and ended with a 2–0 victory for them. The match between East and West Germany remained and was scheduled to be played on 14 November 1990, to celebrate the unification of Germany. Due to riots by East German spectators, it was canceled.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Millions of East Germans had moved to the West before the Berlin Wall was erected in 1961, and some escaped in successful Republikflucht attempts also afterward. All East Germans were automatically entitled to receive a West German passport, but players who had caps for the DFV, like Norbert Nachtweih and Jürgen Pahl who fled in October 1976 at a U21 match in Turkey, were ineligible for international competition for the DFB due to FIFA rules.

Shortly after reunification, players who had played for the East German team were allowed by FIFA to be eligible for the now un-rivaled German team of the DFB. A total of eight players were capped for both East Germany and unified Germany, among them Matthias Sammer and Ulf Kirsten.

Olympic football

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East Germany achieved significantly greater success in Olympic football than the amateur teams fielded by the Western NOC of Germany due to using its elite players from the top domestic league. In 1956, 1960, and 1964 both states had sent a United Team of Germany. For 1964, the East German side had beaten their Western counterparts in order to be selected. They went on to win the Bronze for Germany. As GDR, they won Bronze in 1972 in Munich, Gold in 1976, and silver medal in 1980 in Moscow.

East vs. West

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The team that played Argentina at La Bombonera of Buenos Aires, July 1977

Over the years of their separate existence, the GDR and FRG played each other only a handful of times. The only meeting with professionals from the West was at the 1974 World Cup, which East Germany won 1–0. Three other games were played in Olympic Football where only players with amateur status could represent West Germany, like a young Uli Hoeneß who delayed his pro career in 1972. In the inter-German qualification prior to the 1964 Olympic Games, the two played a two-legged preliminary round tie, the GDR advancing to represent Germany as they won their home leg 3–0, while the FRG won the return 2–1. In the 1972 Olympic Games, the GDR and FRG, having qualified from their first round groups, met in the second round, with the GDR winning 3–2.

Brussels, 1990: saluting the crowd before the last match

The draw for 1992 UEFA European Football Championship qualifying took place on 2 February 1990, with East Germany drawn in Group 5 along with Belgium, Wales, Luxembourg – and West Germany. By 23 August that year, the East German parliament confirmed reunification for 3 October.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The planning for the opening fixture away to Belgium on 12 September was too far along to be canceled, so it was played as a friendly. It was also planned to play East Germany's home fixture against West Germany, scheduled for 21 November 1990 in Leipzig, as a friendly to celebrate the unification of the DFB and DFV, but the game was canceled due to rioting in East German stadia.<ref name = "east german team">Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Clear

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

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Template:Color box Champions  Template:Color box Runners-up  Template:Color box Third place  Template:Color box Fourth place  

FIFA World Cup finals record Qualification record
Year Round Position Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Squad Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip
Template:Flagicon 1930 Part of Template:Flagicon/Template:Flagicon Germany Part of Template:Flagicon/Template:Flagicon Germany
Template:Flagicon 1934
Template:Flagicon 1938
Template:Flagicon 1950 Not a FIFA member Not a FIFA member
Template:Flagicon 1954 Did not enter Did not enter
Template:Flagicon 1958 Did not qualify 3rd 4 1 0 3 5 12
Template:Flagicon 1962 3rd 3 0 1 2 3 6
Template:Flagicon 1966 2nd 4 1 2 1 5 5
Template:Flagicon 1970 2nd 4 2 1 1 7 7
Template:Flagicon 1974 Quarter-finalsTemplate:Efn 6th 6 2 2 2 5 5 Squad 1st 6 5 0 1 18 3
Template:Flagicon 1978 Did not qualify 2nd 6 3 3 0 15 4
Template:Flagicon 1982 2nd 4 2 0 2 9 6
Template:Flagicon 1986 3rd 8 5 0 3 16 9
Template:Flagicon 1990 4th 8 3 1 4 9 13
Total Second group stage 1/10 6 2 2 2 5 5 — – 47 22 8 17 87 65

UEFA European Championship

UEFA European Championship record Qualifying record
Year Round Position Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip
Template:Flagicon 1960 Did not qualify FR 2 0 0 2 2 5
Template:Flagicon 1964 Ro16 4 1 2 1 7 7
Template:Flagicon 1968 2nd 6 3 1 2 10 10
Template:Flagicon 1972 3rd 6 3 1 2 11 6
Template:Flagicon 1976 2nd 6 2 3 1 8 7
Template:Flagicon 1980 3rd 6 5 1 2 18 11
Template:Flagicon 1984 3rd 6 2 1 3 7 7
Template:Flagicon 1988 2nd 8 4 2 1 13 4
Template:Flagicon 1992 Withdrew from qualification Withdrew from qualification
Total 0/9 – 44 20 10 14 76 57

Olympic Games

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Olympic Games record Qualification record
Year Round Position GP Template:Abbr Template:Abbr* Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Squad GP Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Template:Abbr
Template:Flagicon 1952 Did not enter Did not enter —
Template:Flagicon 1956 Withdrew Withdrew 1956
Template:Flagicon 1960 Did not qualify 2 1 0 1 1 4 1960
Template:Flagicon 1964Template:EfnTemplate:Efn Bronze medal 3rd 6 4 1 1 12 4 Squad 7 4 2 1 14 6 1964
Template:Flagicon 1968 Did not qualify 6 5 0 1 16 6 1968
Template:Flagicon 1972 Bronze medal 3rd 7 4 1 2 23 9 Squad 4 3 1 0 7 0 1972
Template:Flagicon 1976 Gold medal 1st 5 4 1 0 10 2 Squad 6 4 2 0 9 1 1976
Template:Flagicon 1980 Silver medal 2nd 6 4 1 1 12 2 Squad Qualified as defending champions 1980
Template:Flagicon 1984 Withdrew Withdrew 1984
Template:Flagicon 1988 Did not qualify 8 4 3 1 12 5 1988
Total 1 Gold medal 4/10 24 16 4 4 57 17 — 33 21 8 4 59 22 —

Player records

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Joachim Streich was East Germany's top goalscorer and their most capped player.
Most appearances<ref name="RSSSF">Template:Cite web</ref>
# Player Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Career
1 Joachim StreichTemplate:Efn 98 53 1969–1984
2 Hans-Jürgen DörnerTemplate:Efn 96 8 1969–1985
3 Jürgen CroyTemplate:Efn 86 0 1967–1981
4 Konrad WeiseTemplate:Efn 78 1 1970–1981
5 Eberhard VogelTemplate:Efn 69 24 1962–1976
6 Ronald Kreer 65 2 1982–1989
7 Bernd BranschTemplate:Efn 64 3 1967–1976
8 Peter DuckeTemplate:Efn 63 15 1960–1975
9 Martin HoffmannTemplate:Efn 62 15 1973–1981
10 Gerd KischeTemplate:Efn 59 0 1971–1980
Lothar KurbjuweitTemplate:Efn 59 3 1970–1981
Matthias Liebers 59 3 1980–1988
Top goalscorers<ref name="RSSSF" />
# Player Template:Abbr Template:Abbr Ratio Career
1 Joachim StreichTemplate:Efn 53 98 {{#expr:53/98 round 2}} 1969–1984
2 Eberhard VogelTemplate:Efn 24 69 {{#expr:24/69 round 2}} 1962–1976
3 Hans-Jürgen KreischeTemplate:Efn 22 46 {{#expr:22/46 round 2}} 1968–1975
4 Rainer Ernst 20 56 {{#expr:20/56 round 2}} 1981–1990
5 Henning Frenzel 19 54 {{#expr:19/54 round 2}} 1961–1974
6 Jürgen Nöldner 16 29 {{#expr:16/29 round 2}} 1960–1969
Andreas Thom 16 51 {{#expr:16/51 round 2}} 1984–1990
8 Martin HoffmannTemplate:Efn 15 62 {{#expr:15/62 round 2}} 1973–1981
Peter Ducke 15 63 {{#expr:15/63 round 2}} 1960–1975
10 Jürgen SparwasserTemplate:Efn 14 48 {{#expr:14/48 round 2}} 1969–1977
Ulf Kirsten 14 49 {{#expr:14/49 round 2}} 1985–1990

Players with caps for both East Germany and unified Germany

The rules of FIFA prevented players who had caps for the DFV team from playing for the DFB team before the unification of DFB and DFV in 1990. The numbers are from the website of the DFB.

Player East Germany Unified Germany Overall
Caps Goals Caps Goals Caps Goals
Ulf Kirsten 49 14 51 20 100 34
Matthias Sammer 23 6 51 8 74 14
Andreas Thom 51 16 10 2 61 18
Thomas Doll 29 7 18 1 47 8
Dariusz Wosz 7 0 17 1 24 1
Olaf Marschall 4 0 13 3 17 3
Heiko Scholz 7 0 1 0 8 0
Dirk Schuster 4 0 3 0 7 0

Coaches

Honours

Major competitions

Friendly

Summary

Competition Template:Gold1 Template:Silver2 Template:Bronze3 Total
FIFA World Cup 0 0 0 0
Olympic Games 1 1 2 4
UEFA European Championship 0 0 0 0
Total 1 1 2 4

See also

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Notes

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References

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Template:National sports teams of East Germany Template:Football in East Germany Template:Defunct national football teams Template:1974 FIFA World Cup finalists

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