Germany national football team (Die Nationalmannschaft)

Germany is one of the most successful national teams in the game’s history having won three World Cups and three European Championships.

They have also been runners-up three times in the European Championships, four times in the World Cup, and further four third places.

The German FA was formed in 1900, becoming a FIFA member four years later.

After the Second World War, Germany was banned from competition in most sports until around 1950. Divided by the Iron Curtain, a West Germany team captained by Fritz Walter lifted the nation’s first major trophy at the 1954 World Cup when the so-called ‘Das Wunder von Bern’ (Miracle of Bern) saw them beat Hungary in the Final.

With stars such as Beckenbauer, Maier, Brietner and Muller, the second World Cup triumph came on home soil in 1974 before Franz Beckenbauer completed a remarkable double at Italia ’90 as the great man coached West Germany to their third World Cup success.

Germany won the European Championships at their second attempt in 1972 before triumphing under coach Jepp Derwall in Italy in 1980.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall, unification was achieved peacefully in 1990 so it was a united Germany that was victorious in England at Euro ’96.

Germany qualified for Euro 2012 with a 100% record of ten wins in ten games played.