East Germany national football team

National football team of East Germany (1952–1990)

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see East Germany women's national football team.

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|

East Germany1952–1990

Nickname(s)| "Weltmeister der Freundschaftsspiele" (World champion in friendly games)[1][2]
Association| Deutscher Fußball-Verband der DDR
Confederation| UEFA (Europe)
Most caps| Joachim Streich (98)
Top scorer| Joachim Streich (53)
Home stadium| Zentralstadion, Leipzig[a]
FIFA code| GDR

First colours

Second colours

|

First international
Poland 3–0 East Germany
(Warsaw, Poland; 21 September 1952)
Last international
Belgium 0–2 East Germany
(Brussels, Belgium; 12 September 1990)
Biggest win
Unofficial
Ceylon 0–14 East Germany
(Colombo, Ceylon; 8 January 1964)
Official
Ceylon 1–12 East Germany
(Colombo, Ceylon; 12 January 1964)
Biggest defeat
Unofficial
Hungary 5–0 East Germany
(Hungary; 18 May 1952)
Official
Poland 3–0 East Germany
(Warsaw, Poland; 21 September 1952)
Wales 4–1 East Germany
(Cardiff, Wales; 25 September 1957)
East Germany 1–4 Czechoslovakia
(Leipzig, East Germany; 27 October 1957)
Ghana 3–0 East Germany
(Accra, Ghana; 23 February 1964)
Italy 3–0 East Germany
(Naples, Italy; 22 November 1969)
Belgium 3–0 East Germany
(Antwerp, Belgium; 18 April 1973)
Scotland 3–0 East Germany
(Glasgow, Scotland; 30 October 1974)
Netherlands 3–0 East Germany
(Rotterdam, Netherlands; 15 November 1978)
Hungary 3–0 East Germany
(Budapest, Hungary; 28 March 1979)
Brazil 3–0 East Germany
(Goiânia, Brazil; 8 April 1986)
Uruguay 3–0 East Germany
(Montevideo, Uruguay; 29 January 1985)
Denmark 4–1 East Germany
(Copenhagen, Denmark; 8 May 1985)
Soviet Union 3–0 East Germany
(Kiev, Soviet Union; 26 April 1989)
Austria 3–0 East Germany
(Vienna, Austria; 15 November 1989)
France 3–0 East Germany
(Kuwait City, Kuwait; 24 January 1990)
World Cup
Appearances| 1 (first in 1974)
Best result| Second group stage (1974)

Medal record

|  | Olympic medal record

Men's football
Men's Olympics
| 1976 Montreal | Team
| 1980 Moscow | Team
| 1972 Munich | 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, English: German Football Association of the GDR), 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

[edit]

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.[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.[3]

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

[edit]

Main article: East Germany Olympic football team

Medal record

Olympic Games
| 1964 Tokyo | Team
| 1972 Munich | Team
| 1976 Montreal | Team
| 1980 Moscow | Team

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

[edit]

See also: East Germany–West Germany football rivalry

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.[4] 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.[5] 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.[5]

## Competitive record

[edit]

### FIFA World Cup

[edit]

Main article: East Germany at the FIFA World Cup

Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place

FIFA World Cup finals record  |  | Qualification record

|
|

Year  | Round  | Position  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad  | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA
1954 | Did not enter | Did not enter
1958 | Did not qualify | 3rd  | 4  | 1  | 0  | 3  | 5  | 12
1962 | 3rd  | 3  | 0  | 1  | 2  | 3  | 6
1966 | 2nd  | 4  | 1  | 2  | 1  | 5  | 5
1970 | 2nd  | 4  | 2  | 1  | 1  | 7  | 7
1974 | Quarter-finals[b] | 6th  | 6  | 2  | 2  | 2  | 5  | 5  | Squad | 1st  | 6  | 5  | 0  | 1  | 18  | 3
1978 | Did not qualify | 2nd  | 6  | 3  | 3  | 0  | 15  | 4
1982 | 2nd  | 4  | 2  | 0  | 2  | 9  | 6
1986 | 3rd  | 8  | 5  | 0  | 3  | 16  | 9
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

[edit]

UEFA European Championship record  |  | Qualifying record

|
|

Year  | Round  | Position  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA
1960 | Did not qualify | FR  | 2  | 0  | 0  | 2  | 2  | 5
1964 | Ro16  | 4  | 1  | 2  | 1  | 7  | 7
1968 | 2nd  | 6  | 3  | 1  | 2  | 10  | 10
1972 | 3rd  | 6  | 3  | 1  | 2  | 11  | 6
1976 | 2nd  | 6  | 2  | 3  | 1  | 8  | 7
1980 | 3rd  | 6  | 5  | 1  | 2  | 18  | 11
1984 | 3rd  | 6  | 2  | 1  | 3  | 7  | 7
1988 | 2nd  | 8  | 4  | 2  | 1  | 13  | 4
1992 | Withdrew from qualification | Withdrew from qualification
Total |  | 0/9 |  |  |  |  |  |  | –  | 44  | 20  | 10  | 14  | 76  | 57

### Olympic Games

[edit]

Main article: East Germany Olympic football team

Olympic Games record  |  | Qualification record

|
|

Year  | Round  | Position  | GP  | W | D*  | L | GF | GA | Squad  | GP  | W | D | L | GF | GA |
1952 | Did not enter | Did not enter | —
1956 | Withdrew | Withdrew | 1956
1960 | Did not qualify | 2  | 1  | 0  | 1  | 1  | 4  | 1960
1964[c][d] | Bronze medal | 3rd | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 4 | Squad | 7  | 4  | 2  | 1  | 14  | 6  | 1964
1968 | Did not qualify | 6  | 5  | 0  | 1  | 16  | 6  | 1968
1972 | Bronze medal | 3rd | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 23 | 9 | Squad | 4  | 3  | 1  | 0  | 7  | 0  | 1972
1976 | Gold medal | 1st | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 2 | Squad | 6  | 4  | 2  | 0  | 9  | 1  | 1976
1980 | Silver medal | 2nd | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 2 | Squad | Qualified as defending champions | 1980
1984 | Withdrew | Withdrew | 1984
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

[edit]

Main article: List of East Germany international footballers

Joachim Streich is East Germany's top goalscorer and their most capped player. Most appearances[6] #  | Player  | Caps | Goals | Career

|
|
|
|

1  | Joachim Streich[e] | 98  | 53  | 1969–1984
2  | Hans-Jürgen Dörner[f] | 96  | 8  | 1969–1985
3  | Jürgen Croy[g] | 86  | 0  | 1967–1981
4  | Konrad Weise[h] | 78  | 1  | 1970–1981
5  | Eberhard Vogel[i] | 69  | 24  | 1962–1976
6  | Ronald Kreer | 65  | 2  | 1982–1989
7  | Bernd Bransch[j] | 64  | 3  | 1967–1976
8  | Peter Ducke[k] | 63  | 15  | 1960–1975
9  | Martin Hoffmann[l] | 62  | 15  | 1973–1981
10  | Gerd Kische[m] | 59  | 0  | 1971–1980
Lothar Kurbjuweit[n] | 59  | 3  | 1970–1981
Matthias Liebers | 59  | 3  | 1980–1988
Top goalscorers[6] #  | Player  | Goals | Caps | Ratio  | Career

|
|
|
|
|

1  | Joachim Streich[e] | 53  | 98  | 0.54  | 1969–1984
2  | Eberhard Vogel[i] | 24  | 69  | 0.35  | 1962–1976
3  | Hans-Jürgen Kreische[o] | 22  | 46  | 0.48  | 1968–1975
4  | Rainer Ernst | 20  | 56  | 0.36  | 1981–1990
5  | Henning Frenzel | 19  | 54  | 0.35  | 1961–1974
6  | Jürgen Nöldner | 16  | 29  | 0.55  | 1960–1969
Andreas Thom | 16  | 51  | 0.31  | 1984–1990
8  | Martin Hoffmann[l] | 15  | 62  | 0.24  | 1973–1981
Peter Ducke | 15  | 63  | 0.24  | 1960–1975
10  | Jürgen Sparwasser[p] | 14  | 48  | 0.29  | 1969–1977
Ulf Kirsten | 14  | 49  | 0.29  | 1985–1990

### Players with caps for both East Germany and unified Germany

[edit]

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

[edit]

* 1952–1953  Willi Oelgardt
* 1954  Hans Siegert
* 1955–1957  János Gyarmati
* 1958–1959  Fritz Gödicke
* 1959–1961  Heinz Krügel
* 1961–1967  Károly Sós
* 1967–1969  Harald Seeger
* 1970–1981  Georg Buschner
* 1982–1983  Rudolf Krause
* 1983–1988  Bernd Stange
* 1988–1989  Manfred Zapf
* 1989–1990  Eduard Geyer

## Honours

[edit]

### Major competitions

[edit]

* Olympic Games
* Gold medal (1): 1976
* Silver medal (1): 1980
* Bronze medal (2): 1964, 1972

### Friendly

[edit]

* Small Club World Cup
* Champions (1): 1975

### Summary

[edit]

Competition |  |  |  | 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

[edit]

* East Germany portal

* East Germany national under-21 football team

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ The East German team had no official home stadium, but 45 of 130 (35%) of their home games were played at the Zentralstadion. Also frequently used for home fixtures were the Stadion der Weltjugend, Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark (both in East Berlin); the Sportforum Chemnitz, Chemnitz; the Ostseestadion, Rostock; and Ernst Grube Stadium, Magdeburg.
2. ^ Last 8 held as second group stage.
3. ^ A team from East Germany made up the United Team of Germany
4. ^ East Germany won the play-off and represented the United Team of Germany
5. ^ a b Joachim Streich also appeared in 4 matches at the 1972 Olympics that are not recognised by FIFA, scoring two goals
6. ^ Hans-Jürgen Dörner appeared in 4 matches that are not recognised by FIFA
7. ^ Jürgen Croy appeared in 8 matches that are not recognized by FIFA
8. ^ Konrad Weise appeared in 8 matches that are not recognized by FIFA
9. ^ a b Eberhard Vogel appeared in 5 matches that are not recognized by FIFA, scoring one goal
10. ^ Bernd Bransch appeared in 8 matches that are not recognized by FIFA
11. ^ Peter Ducke appeared in 5 matches that are not recognized by FIFA
12. ^ a b Martin Hoffmann appeared in 4 matches that are not recognized by FIFA, scoring one goal
13. ^ Gerd Kische appeared in 4 matches that are not recognized by FIFA
14. ^ Lothar Kurbjuweit appeared in 7 matches that are not recognized by FIFA
15. ^ Hans-Jürgen Kreische scored three goals that are not recognized by FIFA
16. ^ Jürgen Sparwasser scored one goal that is not recognized by FIFA

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Joel, Holger; Schütt, Ernst Christian (2008). Chronik des deutschen Fußballs: die Spiele der Nationalmannschaften von 1908 bis heute (in German). wissenmedia Verlag. p. 210\. ISBN 9783577164214.
2. ^ Wiederstein, Wolfgang (14 November 2009). "'Ein Spiel, das wir nicht gewinnen konnten'". Die Presse (in German). Retrieved 21 June 2016.
3. ^ "East Germany - International Results 1952-1990". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
4. ^ Network, The Learning (2011-10-03). "Oct. 3, 1990 | East and West Germany United After 45 Years". The Learning Network. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
5. ^ a b Mansel, Tim (28 December 2015). "The East German team that refused to die". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
6. ^ a b Mamrud, Roberto. "East Germany - Record International Players". RSSSF.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to East Germany national football team.

* DFB statistics of the national team (contains information on East Germany caps and goalscorers)
* RSSSF archive of East Germany results
* RSSSF history of East Germany national team
* RSSSF record of East Germany international caps and goals

* v
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National sports teams of East Germany

* Athletics
* Badminton
* Basketball
* M
* W
* W-U18
* Field hockey
* M
* W
* Football
* M
* Olympic
* M-U21
* M-U16
* W
* Gymnastics
* W
* Handball
* M
* W
* Ice hockey
* M
* M-U18
* Rugby union
* Speedway
* Volleyball
* M
* W
* Water polo

* East Germany portal
* Olympics
* Paralympics

* v
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Football in East Germany

Deutscher Fußball-Verband der DDR

National teams|

| Men|

* National team
* Olympic
* U-21
* U-19
* U-16

|

Women|

* National team

League system|

| Men|

* DDR-Oberliga
* NOFV-Oberliga
* DDR-Liga
* II. DDR-Liga
* DDR-Bezirksliga

|

Women|

* League

Domestic cups|

| Men|

* FDGB-Pokal
* DFV-Supercup

|

Women|

* Cup

Awards|

* Footballer of the Year
* Topscorers

Lists|

* All-time table
* Champions
* Clubs
* International footballers
* National team results
* Venues

* East Germany portal
* Men's clubs
* Women's clubs
* Men's players
* Expatriate players
* Managers
* Rivalry with West Germany
* Seasons

* v
* t
* e

Defunct and altered national football teams

Recognised as defunct by FIFA|

* East Germany
* Saarland
* South Yemen

Teams whose names and borders
both differ from the present|

* CIS
* Curaçao
* Czechoslovakia
* Ireland (IFA)
* Malaya
* Mandatory Palestine
* Netherlands Antilles
* Russian Empire
* South Vietnam
* Unified Korea (U20)
* Soviet Union
* Yugoslavia
* Serbia and Montenegro

Defunct but unrecognised by FIFA|

* Manchukuo
* North Vietnam

For teams that have undergone name changes but no border alterations see here
For teams that have undergone border changes but no name alterations see here

* v
* t
* e

1974 FIFA World Cup finalists

Champions|

* West Germany

Runners-up|

* Netherlands

Third place|

* Poland

Fourth place|

* Brazil

Second group stage|

* Argentina
* East Germany
* Sweden
* Yugoslavia

First group stage|

* Australia
* Bulgaria
* Chile
* Haiti
* Italy
* Scotland
* Uruguay
* Zaire

*[W]: Matches won
*[D]: Matches drawn
*[L]: Matches lost
*[GF]: Goals for
*[GA]: Goals against
*[Caps]: Caps according to FIFA
*[Goals]: Goals according to FIFA
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template