Germany is the world's second most successful FIFA World Cup squad, having won the competition four times (1954, 1974, 1990, and 2014) and three times in the UEFA European Championship, popularly known as the Euro (1972, 1980, and 1996). Germany's total of seven victories places them just behind Argentina's eight wins.
Hamburg and Borussia Dortmund are the only German teams to have reached the final stage of both tournaments. Hamburg lost out to Italy in the final of the 1934 tournament when German football was still banned by the government. Borussia Dortmund failed in their attempt to reclaim the trophy in 2014. The last time two German teams ended up on the same side of the table was in 1976 when Bayern Munich finished ahead of Schalke 04.
Germans call their national team Die Mannschaft (the team), but which members of the squad are actually German? Jupp Derdeyn, Berti Vogts, Lothar Matthäus, Andreas Möller, and Miroslav Klose were all part of these championship-winning sides and many more have played in World Cups over the years. However, only four players represent Germany with one passport - three of those are required by FIFA for World Cup participation. The other option is a use your quota slot, which both Joachim Low and Oliver Bierhoff have done in recent years.
It is most known for its professional football team, which competes in the Bundesliga, the highest level of the German football league system, and is the most successful club in German football history, having won a record 29 national titles and 18 national cups. However, FC Bayern München, their local rival and one-time main rival, has more championships with 13 than Werder Bremen with 12.
Bayern was founded on this day in 1913 by brothers Karl and Ernst Mayer. The Munich Football Association (MVF) granted them permission to create a football club that could compete in international tournaments. This is how the world's first billion-dollar company came into being! Today, Bayern has two other professional soccer teams in addition to the first team. They are called BCN Young Boys and BCN Bellinzona and they both play in Switzerland's top division. Bayern has also had some success in European competition, winning the UEFA Cup twice in 1975–76 and 1976–77. In addition, they have reached the final of the UEFA Champions League three times, losing to Johan Cruyff's Ajax in 1995 and Milan in 1999 and 2010.
Werder Bremen was established on this day in 1945 by members of the Wehrmacht who wanted to keep playing football after World War II.
Brazil Brazil is the most successful World Cup squad, with five titles, and the only country to have competed in every World Cup finals competition. Brazil's all-time best performance at a World Cup was considered to be seventh in 1950. After losing their first two games, Brazil defeated France in match three to advance to the quarter-finals for the first time in their history.
Italy Italy's all-time best performance at a World Cup was considered to be third in 1934. Italy won its first two games before losing to Germany in its opener. The Azzurri then beat Sweden and finished third after losing to France on penalty kicks.
Germany Germany's all-time best performance at a World Cup was considered to be second in 1954. Germany won its first four games before losing to Italy in its opener. The Germans then beat England and finished second after losing to Brazil on goal difference.
France France's all-time best performance at a World Cup was considered to be first in 1998. France won its first three games before losing to Brazil in the quarter-finals. Then it defeated Yugoslavia and Mexico to reach the final but was beaten by the host nation USA on penalty shots.
The most FIFA World Cup titles won by a single team
| No | Country | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brazil | 5 times |
| 2 | Germany | 4 times |
| 3 | Italy | 4 times |
| 4 | Argentina | 2 times |
The FIFA World Cup
| FIFA World Cup Trophy | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1930 |
| Number of teams | 32 (finals) |
| Current champions | France (2nd title) |
| Most successful team(s) | Brazil (5 titles) |
Brazil is ranked first. Brazil is unquestionably the finest team in World Cup history, no matter how you look at it. With 19 appearances in all, the country has also competed in the most distinct events, having been present at every World Cup since Uruguay in 1930. Their record is very impressive, with nine wins, eight draws and only one loss (to Germany in the 2014 edition).
The Brazilian squad is made up of players from all over the world, but most are found on European or South American soil. There are a few exceptions though, like Pelé who was born in Brazil but played for the United States and Marco van Basten who was born in the Netherlands but represented Switzerland at the highest level.
Brazil has won the World Cup twice before - in 1958 and 1962 - and they're considered by many to be the greatest team in history.
However, despite their success there's still debate about whether they're actually the best team of all time. That title probably belongs to Argentina, whose national team has only missed out on the finals once (in 1990 when they were defeated by West Germany in the final).
Argentina has also appeared in more World Cups than any other team (14 starts).
Brazil Brazil boasts the world's most historically successful men's national soccer team, with an unrivaled 62 official international trophies to its name. The Brazilian soccer team has won five FIFA World Cups, in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002, in that order. It also holds the record for the most Olympic gold medals awarded in a single event with 22 victories.
England England's national team has been playing on the world stage since 1863, when it first entered an international tournament. Today, it is known for its football style which uses the ball very aggressively, making high-speed moves and scoring many goals. The English team has won the World Cup twice - in 1966 and 1990 - and has been competing in every final game since then. It also earned itself the nickname of "The Great Britainers" because of its successful campaigns at various other global tournaments.
Germany Germany's national team has been named "Die Mannschaft" (the team) in the past, but today it is known as "Das Team Germany". Since its first appearance in 1954, it has never missed a single competition it has entered, winning the European Championship ten times and the World Cup once in 1974. It is also the only country to have won the trophy without losing a single match.
Italy Italy's national team was one of the original twelve teams that played each other in the first FIFA World Cup in 1930.
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