German national football team

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Association

German Football Association

(Deutscher Fußball-Bund)

Current coach

Jürgen Klinsmann, 2004-

Most capped player

Lothar Matthäus: 150

Highest goalscorer

Gerd Müller: 68

First International

Switzerland 5 - 3 Germany
(Basel, Switzerland; 5 April, 1908)

Largest win

Germany 13 - 0 Finland
(Leipzig, Germany; 1 September, 1940)

Largest defeat

England 9 - 0 Germany
(Oxford, England; 16 March, 1909)

World Cup

Finals appearances: 15 (First: 1934)
Best result: Winners, 1954, 1974, 1990

European Championships

Finals appearances: 9 (First: 1972)
Best result: Winners, 1972, 1980, 1996

The German national football team is one of the most successful national football teams. They have appeared in seven World Cup finals, winning three. They have appeared in 5 European Championship finals, winning three.

During the existence of the German Democratic Republic from 1949 to 1990 there were two German football teams: The East German and the West German team. World Cup and European Championship victories up to and including the 1990 World Cup were all won by the West German team. The 1976 Olympic Gold medal was won by the East German team. See the East Germany national football team article for more details.

The team is currently coached by Jürgen Klinsmann, a former star striker for the national team. Former coach Rudi Völler, one of the country's most capped players (90) and the coach since July 2000, resigned on 24 June 2004 following Germany's first-round exit in Euro 2004. The replacement process was much more drawn-out than normal. After four prospective candidates either refused to entertain offers or turned down the job, Klinsmann took the job on 26 July.

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