Germany national football team facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Germany

Nicknames	DFB-Team (DFB Team) Die Nationalelf (The National Eleven) DFB-Elf (DFB Eleven) Die Mannschaft (The Team)
Association	Deutscher Fußball-Bund (DFB)
Confederation	UEFA (Europe)
Head coach	Julian Nagelsmann
Captain	Joshua Kimmich
Most caps	Lothar Matthäus (150)
Top scorer	Miroslav Klose (71)
Home stadium	Various
FIFA code	GER
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	16 (7 February 2019)
Highest	1 (December 1992 – August 1993, December 1993 – March 1994, June 1994, July 2014 – June 2015, July 2017, September 2017 – June 2018)
Lowest	22 (March 2006)
First international
Switzerland 5–3 Germany  (Basel, Switzerland; 5 April 1908)
Biggest win
Germany 16–0 Russian Empire (Stockholm, Sweden; 1 July 1912)
Biggest defeat
England Amateurs 9–0 Germany  (Oxford, England; 13 March 1909)
World Cup
Appearances	21 (first in 1934)
Best result	Champions (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014)
European Championship
Appearances	14 (first in 1972)
Best result	Champions (1972, 1980, 1996)
Nations League Finals
Appearances	1 (first in 2025)
Best result	Fourth place (2025)
Olympic Games
Appearances	8 (first in 1912)
Best result	Bronze medal (1988)
Confederations Cup
Appearances	3 (first in 1999)
Best result	Champions (2017)
Medal record FIFA World Cup Gold 1954 Switzerland Team Gold 1974 West Germany Team Gold 1990 Italy Team Gold 2014 Brazil Team Silver 1966 England Team Silver 1982 Spain Team Silver 1986 Mexico Team Silver 2002 Korea and Japan Team Bronze 1934 Italy Team Bronze 1970 Mexico Team Bronze 2006 Germany Team Bronze 2010 South Africa Team FIFA Confederations Cup Gold 2017 Russia Team Bronze 2005 Germany Team UEFA European Championship Gold 1972 Belgium Team Gold 1980 Italy Team Gold 1996 England Team Silver 1976 Yugoslavia Team Silver 1992 Sweden Team Silver 2008 Austria and Switzerland Team Bronze 2012 Poland and Ukraine Team Olympics Games Bronze 1988 Seoul Team

The Germany national football team (German: Deutsche Fußballnationalmannschaft) represents Germany in men's international football. The team played its first match in 1908. It is managed by the German Football Association (Deutscher Fußball-Bund (DFB)), which was founded in 1900. The DFB is one of the largest national sports groups in the world.

For a period between 1949 and 1990, Germany was divided after a major war. Because of this, there were separate German national teams recognized by FIFA. These included the DFB's team for West Germany, the Saarland team, and the East Germany team. After Germany became one country again in 1990, the teams from Saarland and East Germany joined the DFB team. The current team represents the reunited Germany.

Germany is one of the most successful national teams in football history. The team has won the FIFA World Cup four times: in 1954, 1974, 1990, and 2014. This is the same number of wins as Italy, and only one less than Brazil, who have won the most. Germany has also been the runner-up four times and finished in third place four times. No other national team has achieved this many top-three finishes.

The team has also won the European Championship three times: in 1972, 1980, and 1996. This places them second behind Spain, who have won four titles. Germany also won the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2017. They have been European Championship runners-up three times. The East Germany team won an Olympic Gold medal in 1976. Germany is also one of only two nations to have won both the men's FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Women's World Cup. When counting both men's and women's World Cups, Germany has won six titles, making it one of the most successful football nations.

The Story of German Football

How German Football Began (1899–1942)

The first international football game on German soil happened in Hamburg on April 18, 1897. A team from Denmark beat a local Hamburg team 5–0.

Before Germany had an official national team, they played five unofficial matches against English teams between 1899 and 1901. England usually sent their amateur team. Germany lost all these games, including a big 12–0 defeat in 1901.

The German Football Association (DFB) was created in 1900. Eight years later, on April 5, 1908, the official Germany national team played its first match. They lost 5–3 to Switzerland in Basel.

In March 1909, Germany faced an English amateur team again and suffered their biggest official loss: 9–0. These early games started a long and exciting rivalry between the two countries.

Julius Hirsch was the first Jewish player to play for the Germany national team, joining in 1911. He scored four goals against the Netherlands in 1912, a first for a German player in a single match.

Gottfried Fuchs, another Jewish player, set a world record by scoring 10 goals for Germany in a 16–0 win against Russia at the 1912 Olympics. This made him the top scorer of that tournament. Sadly, German officials removed all mentions of him from their records between 1933 and 1945. As of 2016, he still held the record for most goals by a German player in one match.

At first, the DFB chose the players without a dedicated coach. Otto Nerz became the first manager in 1926, staying until 1936. Germany could not afford to travel to Uruguay for the first World Cup in 1930. However, they finished third in the 1934 World Cup in their first appearance. After a poor performance at the 1936 Olympic Games, Sepp Herberger took over as coach. In 1937, he put together a strong team nicknamed the Breslau Elf after their 8–0 win over Denmark.

When Austria became part of Germany in 1938, the strong Austrian national team was disbanded. German officials decided that several Austrian players should join the "all-German" team for political reasons. At the 1938 World Cup in France, this combined team drew 1–1 with Switzerland and then lost the replay 2–4. This early exit was Germany's worst World Cup result until 2018.

During World War II, the team played over 30 international games between 1939 and 1942. Then, national team games stopped because most players had to join the armed forces.

Three German Teams (1945–1990)

After World War II, Germany was not allowed to compete in most sports until 1950. The DFB was not a full member of FIFA, so none of the three new German states – West Germany, East Germany, and Saarland – entered the 1950 World Cup qualifiers.

The Federal Republic of Germany, known as West Germany, continued the DFB. FIFA and UEFA recognized this team, and it kept the records of the pre-war team. West Germany played its first post-war match against Switzerland in 1950.

The Saarland, a French protectorate from 1947 to 1956, had its own team. They competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics and the 1954 World Cup qualifiers. In 1957, Saarland joined West Germany.

In 1949, the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) was formed. In 1952, their own football association (DFV) was created, and the East Germany national football team began playing. This team famously beat the 1974 FIFA World Cup-winning West Germans in their only match against each other. East Germany also won the gold medal at the 1976 Olympics. After Germany reunited in 1990, the East German football teams joined the DFB.

The "Miracle of Bern" (1954 World Cup)

West Germany, led by captain Fritz Walter, played in the 1954 FIFA World Cup. They faced strong teams like Turkey, Yugoslavia, and Austria. In the group stage, they lost 3–8 to the powerful Hungarian team, known as the "Mighty Magyars." However, they met Hungary again in the final. Hungary had not lost a match in 32 games, but West Germany broke their streak, winning 3–2. Helmut Rahn scored the winning goal. This amazing victory is known as "The Miracle of Bern."

Famous Matches: Wembley and the "Game of the Century" (1958–1970)

After finishing fourth in the 1958 World Cup and reaching the quarter-finals in 1962, the DFB made changes. Professional football was introduced, and the top clubs formed the new Bundesliga. In 1964, Helmut Schön became coach, replacing Herberger, who had coached for 28 years.

In the 1966 World Cup, West Germany reached the final after beating the USSR. They played against host nation England. In extra time, Geoff Hurst scored a goal that was very controversial. The linesman said the ball crossed the line, but replays showed it might not have. England went on to win 4–2.

West Germany got their revenge in the 1970 World Cup quarter-finals, beating England 3–2. They then lost a thrilling semi-final 4–3 in extra time against Italy. This match, with five goals in extra time, is called the "Game of the Century" in both Italy and Germany. West Germany finished third by beating Uruguay 1–0. Gerd Müller was the top scorer with 10 goals.

Winning the World Cup at Home (1974)

In 1971, Franz Beckenbauer became the captain of the national team. He led West Germany to win the European Championship in 1972, beating the Soviet Union 3–0 in the final.

As hosts of the 1974 World Cup, West Germany won their second World Cup title. They defeated the Netherlands 2–1 in the final in Munich. Two matches were especially memorable. In the first group stage, West Germany played a politically significant game against East Germany. The East Germans won 1–0, but West Germany still moved to the next stage. In the final, they faced the Dutch team, led by Johan Cruyff, who played "Total Football". The Netherlands scored first with a penalty. However, West Germany equalized with a penalty by Paul Breitner, and Gerd Müller scored the winning goal soon after.

The Late 1970s and Early 1980s

West Germany could not defend their titles in the next two big tournaments. They lost to Czechoslovakia in the UEFA Euro 1976 final in a penalty shootout. This was their last penalty shootout loss in a major tournament for a long time.

In the 1978 World Cup, Germany was knocked out in the second group stage after losing 3–2 to Austria. Coach Schön retired, and his assistant, Jupp Derwall, took over.

Under Derwall, West Germany won their second European title at Euro 1980, beating Belgium 2–1 in the final. The 1982 World Cup started with a surprise 1–2 loss to Algeria. But Germany still reached the second round after a 1–0 win over Austria. In the semi-final against France, they drew 3–3 and won the penalty shootout 5–4. They lost the final 1–3 to Italy.

During this time, West Germany's Gerd Müller scored 14 goals in two World Cups (1970 and 1974). His 10 goals in 1970 are the third-most ever in one tournament. Müller's World Cup record of 14 goals was later broken by Ronaldo in 2006, and then by Miroslav Klose in 2014 with 16 goals.

Beckenbauer's Return and 1990 World Cup Win (1984–1990)

After West Germany was eliminated early from Euro 1984, Franz Beckenbauer came back to manage the national team. At the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, West Germany reached the final again. They beat France 2–0 in the semi-finals but lost 2–3 to Diego Maradona's Argentina in the final. In Euro 1988, playing at home, they drew with Italy and beat Denmark and Spain. However, the Netherlands beat them 2–1 in the semi-finals.

At the 1990 World Cup in Italy, West Germany won their third World Cup title. This was their third final in a row! Led by captain Lothar Matthäus, they beat Yugoslavia (4–1), UAE (5–1), the Netherlands (2–1), Czechoslovakia (1–0), and England (1–1, winning 4–3 on penalties). In the final, they faced Argentina again in Rome and won 1–0. The only goal was a penalty scored by Andreas Brehme in the 85th minute. Beckenbauer, who won the World Cup as a player-captain in 1974, became the first person to win the World Cup as both a captain and a manager.

Olympic Football Achievements

Medal record
Summer Olympic Games
Gold	1976 Montreal	Team
Silver	1980 Moscow	Team
Bronze	1964 Tokyo	Team
Bronze	1972 Munich	Team
Bronze	1988 Seoul	Team

Before 1984, Olympic football was for amateur players only. This meant that West Germany, with its professional players, did not have as much success in the Olympics as in the World Cup. West Germany won a bronze medal in the 1988 Olympics.

However, the East Germany team had more success. They could use their top players who were technically considered amateurs. East Germany won a bronze medal for Germany in 1964. As East Germany, they won bronze in 1972, gold in 1976, and silver in 1980.

The Berti Vogts Era (1990–1998)

After the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, East and West Germany reunited. In November 1990, the East German football association joined the DFB. The unified Germany national team played its first game against Switzerland on December 19, 1990.

After the 1990 World Cup, assistant coach Berti Vogts became the new national team coach. In Euro 1992, Germany reached the final but lost 0–2 to Denmark, who were considered underdogs.

In the 1994 World Cup, Germany was surprisingly beaten 1–2 by Bulgaria in the quarter-finals. Only one former East German player, Matthias Sammer, was on the team. The unification of the German football leagues also led to fewer East German clubs in the top league.

Reunited Germany won its first major international title at Euro 1996, becoming European champions for the third time. They beat host nation England in the semi-finals and the Czech Republic 2–1 in the final with a "golden goal" in extra time.

However, in the 1998 World Cup, Germany was knocked out in the quarter-finals after a 0–3 defeat to Croatia. Coach Vogts then stepped down.

Ribbeck and Völler Take Charge (2000–2004)

In Euro 2000, the team did not get past the first round. They drew with Romania, lost 1–0 to England, and were beaten 3–0 by Portugal. Erich Ribbeck resigned as coach and was replaced by Rudi Völler.

Before the 2002 World Cup, many people had low expectations for Germany because of poor results in the qualifying games. But the team surprised everyone. They advanced from their group and won three knockout matches 1–0 against Paraguay, the United States, and South Korea. This led them to the final against Brazil, which was the first time these two giants met in a World Cup final. Germany lost 0–2. Despite the loss, German captain and goalkeeper Oliver Kahn won the Golden Ball award, becoming the first goalkeeper to be named the best player of the tournament.

Germany again exited in the first round at Euro 2004. Völler resigned, and Jürgen Klinsmann became the new head coach.

Klinsmann's Revival (2004–2006)

Klinsmann's main goal was to prepare the national team for a strong performance at the 2006 World Cup, which Germany was hosting. He made some big changes, including making Jens Lehmann the starting goalkeeper over long-time captain Oliver Kahn. Expectations for the team were low, especially after a 4–1 loss to Italy in a friendly game. Germany was ranked only 22nd in the world before the World Cup.

As the host nation, Germany won all three of their group stage matches. They then beat Sweden 2–0 in the round of 16 and Argentina in the quarter-finals after a penalty shootout. In the semi-final against Italy, the game was scoreless until near the end of extra time, when Germany conceded two goals and lost. In the third-place match, Germany defeated Portugal 3–1. Miroslav Klose won the Golden Boot for scoring five goals, the most in the tournament.

The Löw Era (2006–2021)

European and World Cup Challenges (2008–2012)

Joachim Löw became Germany's coach after Klinsmann resigned. At UEFA Euro 2008, Germany reached the final but lost 1–0 to Spain, finishing as runners-up.

At the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Germany won their group. In the round of 16, they defeated England 4–1. Miroslav Klose tied Gerd Müller's record of 14 World Cup goals as Germany beat Argentina 4–0 in the quarter-finals. They lost 1–0 to Spain in the semi-finals but finished third by defeating Uruguay 3–2. Thomas Müller won the Golden Boot and the Best Young Player Award.

At UEFA Euro 2012, Germany won all three group matches and then beat Greece in the quarter-finals. They set a record of 15 consecutive wins in competitive matches. However, they lost 2–1 to Italy in the semi-finals.

Germany Wins the 2014 World Cup

Germany was in Group G for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. They started by beating Portugal 4–0, with Thomas Müller scoring three goals. In their match against Ghana, they drew 2–2, with Miroslav Klose scoring his 15th World Cup goal, tying the record held by Brazil's Ronaldo. Germany then defeated the United States 1–0 to secure their spot in the knockout stages.

In the round of 16, Germany played Algeria. The game was 0–0 after regular time, but André Schürrle scored early in extra time, and Mesut Özil added another goal, making it 2–1. In the quarter-finals against France, Mats Hummels scored the only goal, sending Germany to a record fourth consecutive semi-final.

The 7–1 semi-final win against Brazil was one of the most unforgettable games in World Cup history. Germany scored four goals in less than seven minutes and was leading 5–0 by the 30th minute. This was Brazil's worst-ever World Cup defeat, and Germany broke several World Cup records with this win.

The World Cup final was held in Rio de Janeiro on July 13. Mario Götze scored in the 113th minute, helping Germany beat Argentina 1–0. This made Germany the first European team to win a FIFA World Cup in the Americas.

Euro 2016 and Confederations Cup Victory (2016–2017)

After several key players retired after the 2014 World Cup, Germany had a tough start in the Euro 2016 qualifiers. They lost to Poland for the first time in their history and drew with the Republic of Ireland. Despite these challenges, they won their group and qualified for the tournament.

On November 13, 2015, Germany played a friendly match against France in Paris. During the game, security incidents occurred near the stadium. For safety, both teams stayed inside the stadium overnight. A few days later, a friendly match against the Netherlands in Hanover was cancelled due to a security threat.

At UEFA Euro 2016, Germany won their group matches against Ukraine and Northern Ireland, and drew with Poland. In the round of 16, they easily beat Slovakia 3–0. Germany then faced their rivals Italy in the quarter-finals. The game ended 1–1 after extra time, and Germany won 6–5 in a penalty shootout. This was Germany's first-ever win against Italy in a major tournament. They then lost 2–0 to host nation France in the semi-finals.

Germany qualified for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup as World Cup champions. They won the tournament by beating Chile 1–0 in the final in Russia.

World Cup and Euro Disappointments (2018–2021)

After winning all their qualifying matches and the Confederations Cup, Germany began their 2018 World Cup with a loss to Mexico. They beat Sweden 2–1 with a late goal from Toni Kroos. However, they were eliminated after a 2–0 loss to South Korea. This was Germany's first time exiting in the group stage since 1938. They became the fifth defending champions to be knocked out in the group stages.

Germany's struggles continued in the first UEFA Nations League. They drew with France and lost to the Netherlands and France again. Although they were initially set to be relegated, a change in the tournament format saved them.

In March 2021, the DFB announced that Löw would step down as manager after UEFA Euro 2020. Later that month, Germany lost 2–1 at home to North Macedonia in a World Cup qualifier. This was only their third World Cup qualification defeat ever. On May 25, 2021, Hansi Flick was named the new head coach.

At Euro 2020 (which was played in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), Germany was in a tough group with World Cup champions France and European champions Portugal. They lost to France, beat Portugal, and drew with Hungary. Germany then lost 2–0 to England in the round of 16, their first exit at this stage in a major tournament since 1938.

Recent Years (2021–Present)

After the Euro 2020 disappointment, Hansi Flick became the national team coach. On October 11, 2021, Germany beat North Macedonia 4–0, becoming the first team (besides the hosts) to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In the 2022–23 Nations League, Germany achieved their first competitive win against Italy, beating them 5–2. They finished third in their group.

At the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Germany was in Group E with Spain, Japan, and Costa Rica. They started with a surprising 2–1 defeat to Japan. Germany drew 1–1 with Spain. Despite a 4–2 win over Costa Rica, they were knocked out in the group stage for the second World Cup in a row, missing the knockout stages due to goal difference.

After more poor performances, including a 4–1 home loss to Japan, Flick was dismissed on September 10, 2023. On September 22, 2023, Julian Nagelsmann was named the new head coach. After a difficult end to 2023, Germany found better form in 2024 with wins against France and the Netherlands, raising hopes for UEFA Euro 2024.

As hosts of UEFA Euro 2024, Germany won the opening match against Scotland 5–1. They then defeated Hungary 2–0 to qualify for the round of 16. After beating Denmark, Germany reached the quarter-finals, where they lost 2–1 after extra time to Spain.

Germany finished the group stage of the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League undefeated. They secured their spot in the knockout stage with a 7-0 home win against Bosnia and Herzegovina. After defeating Italy in the quarter-finals, Germany qualified for the 2025 UEFA Nations League Finals. They lost 1-2 against Portugal and 0-2 against France, finishing in fourth place.

In the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification, Germany started with a 0-2 loss against Slovakia. However, they then went on an 11-game winning streak, including a 6-0 win against Slovakia, which secured their qualification.

At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Germany was in Group E with Curaçao, Ecuador, and Ivory Coast. They beat Curaçao 7–1 and Ivory Coast 2–1 in the group stage, qualifying for the knockout stage for the first time since 2014. In the Round of 32, Germany faced Paraguay. The match ended in a 1–1 draw, and Germany lost 3–4 in a penalty shootout. This elimination was seen as a big upset, given the difference in team rankings.

Team Look

Kits and Crest

The national team's home kit usually has a white shirt, black shorts, and white socks. These colors come from the 19th-century flag of Prussia. Since 1988, many home kit designs have included details from the modern German flag. For the 2014 World Cup, Germany wore white shorts instead of black due to FIFA's rules about kit clashes.

The away shirt color has changed over time. A green shirt with white shorts is often used, inspired by the DFB's colors. Other colors like red, grey, and black have also been used.

Adidas AG has been the kit supplier for the national team since 1954. This partnership is set to continue until 2026. In the 1970s, Germany wore Erima kits, which was a German brand owned by Adidas. In March 2024, Nike was announced as the new kit sponsor starting in 2027, ending Adidas's 70-year run.

Three stars were added above the team crest in 1996, representing Germany's World Cup wins in 1954, 1974, and 1990. In 2014, a fourth star was added after Germany won their fourth World Cup.

Kit Suppliers Over Time

Kit supplier	Period	Notes
Leuzela	1950–1964	Germany wore Leuzela kits during the 1954 FIFA World Cup.
Umbro	1964–1971	Germany wore Umbro kits during the 1966 and 1970 FIFA World Cups.
Erima	1971–1980	Erima was a subsidiary of Adidas in the 1970s.
Adidas	1980–2026	First Adidas jersey was worn in the UEFA Euro 1980 final.
Nike	2027–2034	Nike will become the first non-German kit supplier for Germany since 1971.

Kit Sponsorship Deals

Kit supplier	Period	Contract		Notes
		Announcement	Duration
Adidas	1954–2026	20 June 2016	2019–2022 (4 years)	Per year: €50 million ($56.7 million) Total: €250 million ($283.5 million)
		10 September 2018	2023–2026 (4 years)	Undisclosed
Nike	2027–2034	21 March 2024	2027–2034 (8 years)	Per year: €100 million ($108 million)

Home Stadiums

Germany plays its home matches in different stadiums across the country. They have played in 43 different cities, including places that were part of Germany at the time, like Vienna.

Berlin has hosted the most national team matches (46 games), including Germany's first home match in 1908 against England. Other common host cities include Hamburg (34 matches), Stuttgart (32), Hanover (28), and Dortmund. Munich also hosted important games, such as the 1974 World Cup final.

Where to Watch German Football

As of July 2026, Germany's friendly matches are shown on RTL, ARD, and ZDF. UEFA Euro and FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, UEFA Nations League games, and major tournaments are broadcast on ARD and ZDF.

Recent Matches and Upcoming Games

Here are the results of matches played in the last twelve months, and any future matches that have been scheduled.

      Win       Draw       Loss       Future Match

2025 Matches

2026 Matches

Coaching Staff

As of July 2026.

Position	Name
Head coach	Julian Nagelsmann
Assistant coaches	Mads Buttgereit Benjamin Glück
Goalkeeping coaches	Michael Fuchs Andreas Kronenberg
Fitness coach	Nicklas Dietrich
Athletic coach	Krunoslav Banovčić
Doctor	Tim Meyer
Sporting director	Rudi Völler

Players

Current Squad

The following players were part of the team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Information correct as of 29 June 2026, after the match against Paraguay.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Manuel Neuer	(1986-03-27) 27 March 1986 (age 40)	128	0	Bayern Munich
12	1GK	Oliver Baumann	(1990-06-02) 2 June 1990 (age 36)	13	0	TSG Hoffenheim
21	1GK	Alexander Nübel	(1996-09-30) 30 September 1996 (age 29)	3	0	VfB Stuttgart
2	2DF	Antonio Rüdiger	(1993-03-03) 3 March 1993 (age 33)	86	3	Real Madrid
3	2DF	Waldemar Anton	(1996-07-20) 20 July 1996 (age 29)	15	0	Borussia Dortmund
4	2DF	Jonathan Tah	(1996-02-11) 11 February 1996 (age 30)	51	1	Bayern Munich
13	2DF	Pascal Groß	(1991-06-15) 15 June 1991 (age 35)	19	1	Brighton & Hove Albion
15	2DF	Nico Schlotterbeck INJ	(1999-12-01) 1 December 1999 (age 26)	29	1	Borussia Dortmund
18	2DF	Nathaniel Brown	(2003-06-16) 16 June 2003 (age 23)	8	1	Eintracht Frankfurt
22	2DF	David Raum	(1998-04-22) 22 April 1998 (age 28)	39	1	RB Leipzig
24	2DF	Malick Thiaw	(2001-08-08) 8 August 2001 (age 24)	7	0	Newcastle United
5	3MF	Aleksandar Pavlović	(2004-05-03) 3 May 2004 (age 22)	15	1	Bayern Munich
6	3MF	Joshua Kimmich (captain)	(1995-02-08) 8 February 1995 (age 31)	114	10	Bayern Munich
8	3MF	Leon Goretzka	(1995-02-06) 6 February 1995 (age 31)	73	15	Bayern Munich
9	3MF	Jamie Leweling	(2001-02-26) 26 February 2001 (age 25)	6	1	VfB Stuttgart
10	3MF	Jamal Musiala	(2003-02-26) 26 February 2003 (age 23)	46	10	Bayern Munich
16	3MF	Angelo Stiller	(2001-04-04) 4 April 2001 (age 25)	9	0	VfB Stuttgart
17	3MF	Florian Wirtz	(2003-05-03) 3 May 2003 (age 23)	45	11	Liverpool
19	3MF	Leroy Sané	(1996-01-11) 11 January 1996 (age 30)	80	18	Galatasaray
20	3MF	Nadiem Amiri	(1996-10-27) 27 October 1996 (age 29)	13	1	Mainz 05
23	3MF	Felix Nmecha	(2000-10-10) 10 October 2000 (age 25)	12	2	Borussia Dortmund
25	3MF	Assan Ouédraogo	(2006-05-09) 9 May 2006 (age 20)	1	1	RB Leipzig
7	4FW	Kai Havertz	(1999-06-11) 11 June 1999 (age 27)	62	25	Arsenal
11	4FW	Nick Woltemade	(2002-02-14) 14 February 2002 (age 24)	12	4	Newcastle United
14	4FW	Maximilian Beier	(2002-10-17) 17 October 2002 (age 23)	10	0	Borussia Dortmund
26	4FW	Deniz Undav	(1996-07-19) 19 July 1996 (age 29)	13	9	VfB Stuttgart
INJ Withdrew due to injury

Recent Call-ups

The following players have also been called up for the team within the last twelve months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Jonas Urbig	(2003-08-08) 8 August 2003 (age 22)	0	0	Bayern Munich	v.  United States, 6 June 2026
GK	Finn Dahmen	(1998-03-27) 27 March 1998 (age 28)	0	0	FC Augsburg	v.  Ghana, 30 March 2026
GK	Noah Atubolu	(2002-05-25) 25 May 2002 (age 24)	0	0	SC Freiburg	v.  Slovakia, 17 November 2025
DF	Josha Vagnoman	(2000-12-11) 11 December 2000 (age 25)	2	0	VfB Stuttgart	v.  Ghana, 30 March 2026
DF	Ridle Baku	(1998-04-08) 8 April 1998 (age 28)	8	2	RB Leipzig	v.  Slovakia, 17 November 2025
DF	Robert Andrich	(1994-09-22) 22 September 1994 (age 31)	19	0	Bayer Leverkusen	v.  Northern Ireland, 13 October 2025
DF	Robin Koch	(1996-07-17) 17 July 1996 (age 29)	15	0	Eintracht Frankfurt	v.  Northern Ireland, 13 October 2025
DF	Maximilian Mittelstädt	(1997-03-18) 18 March 1997 (age 29)	15	1	VfB Stuttgart	v.  Northern Ireland, 7 September 2025
DF	Nnamdi Collins	(2004-01-10) 10 January 2004 (age 22)	1	0	Eintracht Frankfurt	v.  Northern Ireland, 7 September 2025
MF	Lennart Karl	(2008-02-22) 22 February 2008 (age 18)	3	0	Bayern Munich	2026 FIFA World Cup INJ
MF	Serge Gnabry	(1995-07-14) 14 July 1995 (age 30)	59	26	Bayern Munich	v.  Ghana, 30 March 2026
MF	Chris Führich	(1998-01-09) 9 January 1998 (age 28)	9	0	VfB Stuttgart	v.  Ghana, 30 March 2026
MF	Kevin Schade	(2001-11-27) 27 November 2001 (age 24)	5	0	Brentford	v.  Ghana, 30 March 2026
MF	Anton Stach	(1998-11-15) 15 November 1998 (age 27)	3	0	Leeds United	v.  Ghana, 30 March 2026
MF	Karim Adeyemi	(2002-01-18) 18 January 2002 (age 24)	11	1	Borussia Dortmund	v.  Slovakia, 17 November 2025
MF	Paul Nebel	(2002-10-10) 10 October 2002 (age 23)	0	0	Mainz 05	v.  Northern Ireland, 7 September 2025
FW	Jonathan Burkardt	(2000-07-11) 11 July 2000 (age 25)	5	0	Eintracht Frankfurt	v.  Slovakia, 17 November 2025
FW	Said El Mala	(2006-08-26) 26 August 2006 (age 19)	0	0	1. FC Köln	v.  Luxembourg, 14 November 2025
FW	Niclas Füllkrug	(1993-02-09) 9 February 1993 (age 33)	24	14	AC Milan	v.  Slovakia, 4 September 2025 INJ
INJ Withdrew due to injury

Individual Records

Player Records

Players in bold are still active with Germany.

This list does not include players who represented East Germany.

Most Games Played for Germany

Rank	Player	Caps	Goals	Period
1	Lothar Matthäus	150	23	1980–2000
2	Miroslav Klose	137	71	2001–2014
3	Thomas Müller	131	45	2010–2024
4	Lukas Podolski	130	49	2004–2017
5	Manuel Neuer	128	0	2009–2026
6	Bastian Schweinsteiger	121	24	2004–2016
7	Joshua Kimmich	114	10	2016–present
	Toni Kroos	114	17	2010–2024
9	Philipp Lahm	113	5	2004–2014
10	Jürgen Klinsmann	108	47	1987–1998

Top Goal Scorers for Germany

Rank	Player	Goals	Caps	Average	Period
1	Miroslav Klose (list)	71	137	0.52	2001–2014
2	Gerd Müller (list)	68	62	1.1	1966–1974
3	Lukas Podolski	49	130	0.38	2004–2017
4	Rudi Völler	47	90	0.52	1982–1994
	Jürgen Klinsmann		108	0.44	1987–1998
6	Karl-Heinz Rummenigge	45	95	0.47	1976–1986
	Thomas Müller		131	0.34	2010–2024
8	Uwe Seeler	43	72	0.6	1954–1970
9	Michael Ballack	42	98	0.43	1999–2010
10	Oliver Bierhoff	37	70	0.53	1996–2002

Team Captains

Player	Period	Notes
Fritz Szepan	1934–1939
Paul Janes	1939–1942
Fritz Walter	1951–1956	First official captain of the West Germany national football team World Cup winning captain (1954)
Hans Schäfer	1952–1962	First West German player to play in three World Cup tournaments (1954, 1958, 1962)
Helmut Rahn	1958–1959
Herbert Erhardt	1959–1962
Hans Schäfer	1962
Uwe Seeler	1962–1970
Wolfgang Overath	1970–1972
Franz Beckenbauer	1972–1977	European Championship winning captain (1972) World Cup winning captain (1974)
Berti Vogts	1977–1978
Sepp Maier	1978–1979
Bernard Dietz	1979–1981	European Championship winning captain (1980)
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge	1981–1986
Harald Schumacher	1986
Klaus Allofs	1986–1987
Lothar Matthäus	1987–1995	World Cup winning captain (1990) First captain of the unified Germany national football team
Jürgen Klinsmann	1995–1998	European Championship winning captain (1996)
Oliver Bierhoff	1998–2001
Oliver Kahn	2001–2004
Michael Ballack	2004–2010
Philipp Lahm	2010–2014	World Cup winning captain (2014)
Bastian Schweinsteiger	2014–2016
Manuel Neuer	2016–2017, 2017–2023
Julian Draxler	2017	Confederations Cup winning captain (2017)
İlkay Gündoğan	2023–2024
Joshua Kimmich	2024–

Germany's Player of the Year

• 2010: Bastian Schweinsteiger
• 2011: Mesut Özil
• 2012: Mesut Özil
• 2013: Mesut Özil
• 2014: Toni Kroos
• 2015: Mesut Özil
• 2016: Mesut Özil
• 2017: Joshua Kimmich
• 2018: Marco Reus
• 2019: Matthias Ginter
• 2020: Manuel Neuer
• 2021: Joshua Kimmich
• 2022: Jamal Musiala
• 2023: Emre Can
• 2024: Jamal Musiala

Manager Records

Joachim Löw: 198 games as manager.

Team Records

World Record: 15 Wins in a Row

Date	Opponent	Venue		Result	Type	Scorers
10 July 2010	Uruguay	Port Elizabeth, RSA	*	3–2	WC 2010 3rd place	Müller  19', Jansen  56', Khedira  82'
3 September 2010	Belgium	Brussels, BEL	A	1–0	EC 2012 Qualification	Klose  51'
7 September 2010	Azerbaijan	Köln	H	6–1	EC 2012 Qualification	Westermann  28', Podolski  45+1', Klose  45+2', 90+2', Sadygov  53' (o.g.), Badstuber  86'
8 October 2010	Turkey	Berlin	H	3–0	EC 2012 Qualification	Klose  42', 87', Özil  79'
12 October 2010	Kazakhstan	Astana, KAZ	A	3–0	EC 2012 Qualification	Klose  48', Gómez  76', Podolski  85'
26 March 2011	Kazakhstan	Kaiserslautern	H	4–0	EC 2012 Qualification	Klose  3', 88', Müller  25', 43'
3 June 2011	Austria	Vienna, AUT	A	2–1	EC 2012 Qualification	Gómez  44', 90'
7 June 2011	Azerbaijan	Baku, AZE	A	3–1	EC 2012 Qualification	Özil  30', Gómez  41', Schürrle  90+3'
2 September 2011	Austria	Gelsenkirchen	H	6–2	EC 2012 Qualification	Klose  8', Özil  23', 47', Podolski  28', Schürrle  83', Götze  88'
7 October 2011	Turkey	Istanbul, TUR	A	3–1	EC 2012 Qualification	Gómez  35', Müller  66', Schweinsteiger  86' (pen.)
11 October 2011	Belgium	Düsseldorf	H	3–1	EC 2012 Qualification	Özil  30', Schürrle  33', Gómez  48'
9 June 2012	Portugal	Lviv, UKR	*	1–0	EC 2012 Group	Gómez  72'
13 June 2012	Netherlands	Kharkiv, UKR	*	2–1	EC 2012 Group	Gómez  24', 38'
17 June 2012	Denmark	Lviv, UKR	*	2–1	EC 2012 Group	Podolski  19', Bender  80'
22 June 2012	Greece	Gdańsk, POL	*	4–2	EC 2012 Quarter final	Lahm  39', Khedira  61', Klose  68', Reus  74'

Tournament History

• 1930–1938 as → →  Germany
• 1950–1990 as  West Germany
• 1994–present as  Germany

     Champions       Runners-up       Third place     Tournament played fully or partially on home soil  

Germany has won the FIFA World Cup four times, second only to Brazil's five wins. They have finished as runners-up four times. Germany holds the record for most semi-final appearances with 13. From 1954 to 2014, Germany always reached at least the quarter-finals. They were eliminated in the group stage in 2018 and 2022, and in the Round of 32 in 2026. Germany has qualified for every World Cup they have entered. They did not enter the first tournament in 1930 due to economic reasons and were banned from the 1950 World Cup.

Germany has also won the European Championship three times, one less than Spain. They have finished as runners-up three times. Germany has qualified for every European Championship except for their first attempt in 1968. In most tournaments, Germany has reached at least the semi-finals, which is a record in Europe.

See also East Germany and Saarland for the results of these separate German teams, and Austria for the team that was part of the Germany national team from 1938 to 1945.

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup finals record											Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Squad		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Campaign
1930	Did not enter										Did not enter						—
1934	Third place	3rd	4	3	0	1	11	8	Squad		1	1	0	0	9	1	1934
1938	First round	10th	2	0	1	1	3	5	Squad		3	3	0	0	11	1	1938
1950	Banned from entering										Banned from entering						1950
1954	Champions	1st	6	5	0	1	25	14	Squad		4	3	1	0	12	3	1954
1958	Fourth place	4th	6	2	2	2	12	14	Squad		Qualified as defending champions						1958
1962	Quarter-finals	7th	4	2	1	1	4	2	Squad		4	4	0	0	11	5	1962
1966	Runners-up	2nd	6	4	1	1	15	6	Squad		4	3	1	0	14	2	1966
1970	Third place	3rd	6	5	0	1	17	10	Squad		6	5	1	0	20	3	1970
1974	Champions	1st	7	6	0	1	13	4	Squad		Qualified as hosts						1974
1978	Second group stage	6th	6	1	4	1	10	5	Squad		Qualified as defending champions						1978
1982	Runners-up	2nd	7	3	2	2	12	10	Squad		8	8	0	0	33	3	1982
1986	Runners-up	2nd	7	3	2	2	8	7	Squad		8	5	2	1	22	9	1986
1990	Champions	1st	7	5	2	0	15	5	Squad		6	3	3	0	13	3	1990
1994	Quarter-finals	5th	5	3	1	1	9	7	Squad		Qualified as defending champions						1994
1998		7th	5	3	1	1	8	6	Squad		10	6	4	0	23	9	1998
2002	Runners-up	2nd	7	5	1	1	14	3	Squad		10	6	3	1	19	12	2002
2006	Third place	3rd	7	5	1	1	14	6	Squad		Qualified as hosts						2006
2010		3rd	7	5	0	2	16	5	Squad		10	8	2	0	26	5	2010
2014	Champions	1st	7	6	1	0	18	4	Squad		10	9	1	0	36	10	2014
2018	Group stage	22nd	3	1	0	2	2	4	Squad		10	10	0	0	43	4	2018
2022		17th	3	1	1	1	6	5	Squad		10	9	0	1	36	4	2022
Total	4 titles	20/22	112	68	21*	23	232	130			104	83	18	3	328	74	Total

*Denotes draws including knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

FIFA Confederations Cup

FIFA Confederations Cup record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Squad
1992	Did not enter
1995	Did not qualify
1997	Did not enter
1999	Group stage	5th	3	1	0	2	2	6	Squad
2001	Did not qualify
2003	Did not enter
2005	Third place	3rd	5	3	1	1	15	11	Squad
2009	Did not qualify
2013
2017	Champions	1st	5	4	1	0	12	5	Squad
Total	1 title	3/10	13	8	2	3	29	22	—

UEFA European Championship

UEFA European Championship record											Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Squad		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Campaign
1960	Did not enter										Did not enter
1964
1968	Did not qualify										4	2	1	1	9	2	1968
1972	Champions	1st	2	2	0	0	5	1	Squad		8	5	3	0	13	3	1972
1976	Runners-up	2nd	2	1	1*	0	6	4	Squad		8	4	4	0	17	5	1976
1980	Champions	1st	4	3	1	0	6	3	Squad		6	4	2	0	17	1	1980
1984	Group stage	5th	3	1	1	1	2	2	Squad		8	5	1	2	15	5	1984
1988	Semi-finals	3rd	4	2	1	1	6	3	Squad		Qualified as hosts
1992	Runners-up	2nd	5	2	1	2	7	8	Squad		6	5	0	1	13	4	1992
1996	Champions	1st	6	4	2*	0	10	3	Squad		10	8	1	1	27	10	1996
2000	Group stage	15th	3	0	1	2	1	5	Squad		8	6	1	1	20	4	2000
2004		12th	3	0	2	1	2	3	Squad		8	5	3	0	13	4	2004
2008	Runners-up	2nd	6	4	0	2	10	7	Squad		12	8	3	1	35	7	2008
2012	Semi-finals	3rd	5	4	0	1	10	6	Squad		10	10	0	0	34	7	2012
2016		3rd	6	3	2*	1	7	3	Squad		10	7	1	2	24	9	2016
2020	Round of 16	15th	4	1	1	2	6	7	Squad		8	7	0	1	30	7	2020
2024	Qualified as hosts										Qualified as hosts
Total	3 Titles	14/17	53	27	13*	13	78	55	—		106	76	20	10	267	68	Total

*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

UEFA Nations League

UEFA Nations League record
League phase / quarter-finals													Finals
Season	LG	Grp	Pos	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	P/R	RK		Year	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Squad	Pos
2018–19	A	1	3rd	4	0	2	2	3	7		11th		2019	Did not qualify
2020–21	A	4	2nd	6	2	3	1	10	13		8th		2021
2022–23	A	3	3rd	6	1	4	1	11	9		10th		2023
2024–25	A	3	1st	8	5	3	0	23	8		2nd		2025	2	0	0	2	1	4	Squad	4th
Total				24	8	12	4	47	37	Top 4			Total	2	0	0	2	1	4	—

*Denotes draws including knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

Olympic Games

Summer Olympic Games record											Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Squad		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Campaign
1900	Did not enter										Did not enter						—
1904																	—
1908																	—
1912	First round	7th	3	1	0	2	18	8	Squad		Invited						—
1920	Banned										Banned						—
1924																	—
1928	Quarter-finals	5th	2	1	0	1	5	4	Squad		Invited						—
1936		6th	2	1	0	1	9	2	Squad		Qualified as hosts						—
1948	Banned										Banned						—
1952	Fourth place	4th	4	2	0	2	8	8	Squad		Invited						—
1956	First round	9th	1	0	0	1	1	2	Squad		Automatic qualification						1956
1960	Did not qualify										6	3	0	3	9	11	1960
1964											2	1	0	1	2	4	1964
1968											2	1	0	1	1	2	1968
1972	Second round	5th	6	3	1	2	17	8	Squad		Qualified as hosts						1972
1976	Did not qualify										2	0	1	1	2	3	1976
1980	Did not enter										Did not enter						1980
1984	Quarter-finals	5th	4	2	0	2	10	6	Squad		6	3	1	2	8	5	1984
1988	Bronze medal	3rd	6	4	1	1	16	4	Squad		8	5	2	1	16	4	1988
1992	Did not qualify										UEFA European Under-21 Championship						1992
1996																	1996
2000																	2000
2004																	2004
2008																	2008
2012																	2012
2016	Silver medal	2nd	6	3	3	0	22	6	Squad								2016
2020	Group stage	9th	3	1	1	1	6	7	Squad								2020
2024	Did not qualify																2024
2028	To be determined										To be determined
2032
Total	2 medals	10/28	37	18	6*	13	112	55	—		26	13	4	9	38	29	Total

*Denotes draws including knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

**Red border indicates tournament was held on home soil.

Honours and Awards

Global Titles

• FIFA World Cup
  • Champions: 1954, 1974, 1990, 2014
  • Runners-up: 1966, 1982, 1986, 2002
  • Third place: 1934, 1970, 2006, 2010
• Olympic Games
  • Bronze Medal: 1988¹
• FIFA Confederations Cup
  • Champions: 2017
  • Third place: 2005

Continental Titles

• UEFA European Championship
  • Champions: 1972, 1980, 1996
  • Runners-up: 1976, 1992, 2008

Friendly Tournament Wins

• U.S. Cup
  • Champions: 1993
• Swiss Centenary Tournament
  • Champions: 1995
• Four Nations Tournament
  • Third place: 1988
• Azteca 2000 Tournament
  • Third place: 1985

Special Awards

• FIFA Team of the Year: 1993, 2014, 2017
• Laureus World Sports Award for Team of the Year: 2015
• World Soccer World Team of the Year: 1990, 2014
• Gazzetta Sports World Team of the Year: 1980, 1990, 2014
• FIFA World Cup Fair Play Trophy: 1974
• FIFA Confederations Cup Fair Play Award: 2017
• German Sports Team of the Year: 1966, 1970, 1974, 1980, 1990, 1996, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014
• Silbernes Lorbeerblatt: 1954, 1972, 1974, 1980, 1990, 1996, 2014
• Bambi Award: 1986, 1996
• Deutscher Fernsehpreis: 2010
• Golden Hen: 2006, 2010, 2014

Summary of Major Titles

Competition				Total
FIFA World Cup	4	4	4	12
FIFA Confederations Cup	1	0	1	2
UEFA European Championship	3	3	0	6
Total	8	7	5	20

See also

In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Alemania para niños