A brief history of British-German Football

1871 - 1938 The Fifties The Sixties The seventies The eighties the nineties 2000 & beyond

The Nineties

1990 was the last year of an independent East German national football team, which played its final friendly against a British side in April, narrowly defeating Scotland.

Both England and West Germany did comparatively well in the 1990 World Cup.
The semi-final saw two evenly matched teams. Despite the high profile of the match, the English tabloid press had found it necessary to open its own parallel battleground, stoking a fire with xenophobia, war imagery and brutish cliché.

In 1990, England had played their best World Cup since 1966. Taking a slow start in a 1–1 draw with the Republic of Ireland and another 1–1 draw with the Netherlands, they had beaten Egypt 1–0 in their last group match and went on to beat the Netherlands, Belgium and Cameroon in the knockout rounds. Germany had already defeated Yugoslavia (4–1), the United Arab Emirates (5–1), held Colombia in a 1–1 draw and gone on to beat the Netherlands (2–1), and Czechoslovakia (1–0).

While streets in England and Germany were deserted, the England side began with a great chance in the very first minutes, with Gascoigne forcing Illgner to put the ball behind the box. Corners followed and the English team impressed with flowing link-ups between Gascoigne and Lineker and a particularly fluent Waddle. The German's meanwhile took some ten minutes to find their way in, being effectively blocked by a comfortable English defence. Moreover, England were creating more chances, and enjoyed more possession in the first twenty minutes or so. Yet, the Germans continued to look dangerous, and they were slowly getting more ball. Just after the half hour, Völler was injured in a fair challenge from Walker, resulting in a short setback for the Germany team. But even with Völler off the pitch they surged back soon enough and held the initiative for the rest of the first half, bringing two more good saves out of Shilton.

The second half began as the first had ended with Germany pressing England back into their own half, but unable to effectively break down the defence. As West Germany began to raise the tempo, they made a good chance, Thon shooting to straight and too weakly from inside the area. Wight headed a dangerous cross from Hässler over the bar, which was soon followed by a wide shot by Thon. Thon, Hässler and Matthäus were running at the England defence, almost unopposed. The goal finally came as a freak shot in which a Brehme free-kick spun off Parker's block looping up over Shilton and just in under the bar.

But England surged back, creating more chances and gaining considerably more possession. Then, Wright fed Parker who hit a long ball into the area. The ball fell for Lineker who juggled it to the left and shot it low under Kohler's leg and past Illgner.

Neither team managed to produce more chances in the last ten minutes, and again it was extra time.
The first half of extra time was dominated by Germany. A dangerous Klinsmann header was saved by Shilton, followed by a narrowly wide shot two minutes later. Then came a swerving corner from Brehme, which was put behind by Walker. Ten minutes into the first half, Gascoigne received his second booking of the tournament, which would rule him out of the final if England won – and the famous tears started to flow.

The game continued with pressure from Germany. Then, a Steven's header found Waddle in the penalty area, his shot booming off the bottom of the post.

The second half of extra time began with a dominant England team. A Platt header from a Waddle free-kick was judged offside, but more chances were made. Then the Germans surged again but came to nothing, a great Thon shot was saved by Shilton, Brehme shot just over. A grand Klinsmann run was ended by Walker, and a Buchwald shot hit the woodwork. The teams had to be separated by penalties.

Penalties famously ended with Pearce's shot rebounding of Illgner's legs and the shot by an exhausted Waddle soaring high.

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The night ended with riots in over 60 English towns in which three people were killed and many injured. Police arrested some 600 people. But while some English fans vented their anger on German-manufactured cars, German hooligans were taking it out on foreigners in several cities.

England's good performance, the relative lack of violence – they won the tournament's Fair Play Award – and the emergence of Paul Gascoigne caused a general rehabilitation of English football. Peter Shilton retired after the World Cup, having won an unbroken record of 125 caps.

West Germany went on to win 1–0 against Argentina with a penalty goal scored in the 85th minute of a dull match. It was their third World Cup title after two consecutive second-place finishes.

In 1991, Germany played two qualifiers against Wales and a friendly against England.

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The final tournament of Euro 92 was hosted by Sweden. England, Germany, and Scotland participated in the final tournament. England dropped out after making draws with France and Denmark and losing 2–1 to Sweden.

Having lost to the Netherlands, Scotland met Germany in a group match which the Germans decided in their own favour. Germany later won over Sweden but lost to Denmark finishing as runners-up.

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In 1993, Germany played two friendlies, one with Scotland in Glasgow and one against England in the US.

Germany dropped out in the quarterfinals of the 1994 World Cup while none of the British nations qualified.

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In 1995, Wales and Germany met in the qualification rounds for Euro 1996. In the first match, Wales held Germany to a draw – in the second, which ends with a defeat for Wales, both teams manage to score an own goal.

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Germany famously missed two penalties in a friendly against Northern Ireland in May 1996. One month later, they Germany met England in the 1996 European Championship.

Being allotted the same group, England defeated Scotland 2–0, finishing first of their group. Germany had won all their group matches with the exception of a draw with Italy, and it soon became clear that a match with England was imminent – a rematch of the 1990 World Cup semi-final but on home soil for England.

Once again, the tabloids were rife with infantile xenophobia and cliché, so that Vauxhall were sufficiently offended to withdraw future advertising from Mirror and Daily Star. Across the Channel, German Bild tried to respond in kind. Before the match, Paul Ince, however, said that the players did not regard the Germans as the enemy and did not like the match being treated as if it were World War Three.

The match had barely taken off when a cross was headed out to Ince, who answered with a volley that forced Köpke to acrobatically punch it over for a corner. Gascoigne's in-swinging kick was flicked on by Adams at the near post and Shearer headed it past Köpke. The crowd went wild. When the Germans regained their composure, they began to push forward but failed to create any chances. But then, Helmer and Möller worked a one-two on the left-hand edge of the area, Helmer slipped the ball low and Kuntz put it past Seaman from a few yards. As six years before, the teams were almost even, and as six year before, they should take the match into extra time.

This time, however, the "golden goal" rule applied. But rather than becoming cautious, both teams attacked. Play was soon sweeping from end to end. England made the first proper chance but hit the woodwork. Then it was Germany's turn, they scored, but the goal was disallowed, apparently for pushing. And so it went on with occasional lulls in between. Once more it would be penalties, and once more Germany would win. Germany went on to reap their third title – as the best of a mediocre bunch of teams in the Euro 96.

As in 1990, there were riots after the Germany-England match, ending in 200 arrests only in London.

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In the qualification for the 1998 World Cup, Germany played Northern Ireland in November 1996 and August 1997. After nearly 60 minutes into the second game, Northern Ireland had taken the lead while Germany's attack continued to be ineffective. A 69th minute substitution of Kirsten by Bierhoff turned the game. Bierhoff scored after a mere three minutes, completing a full hattrick within 6 minutes!

At the 1998 World Cup in France, Germany sported a team whose best players are also its oldest. Critics at home agreed that the future of German football did not look particularly bright, and that the situation had to be amended as quickly as possible. Scotland again dropped out in round 1 while England were eliminated in round 2, losing to Argentina on penalties after 2–2 draw. Germany finally dropped out in the quarterfinals, losing 3–0 to Croatia.

Northern Ireland and Germany met again for two Euro 2000 qualifiers in 1999 ending in a 3–0 and a 4–0 defeat of Northern Ireland. The second match saw another German hattrick, this time by Christian Ziege.

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WC Qualifier, 9 November 1996, Nuremberg, Frankenstadion

Half Time Score: 1 – 1; Final Score: 1 – 1;

Germany :

- Andreas Möller 40'

Northern Ireland :

- Gerry Taggart 38'

Attendance : approx. 40,700

Managers:

 

Berti Vogts

Bryan Hamilton

Referee: Ahmet Çakar ( Turkey)

Teams:

 

  1. Andreas Köpke
  2. Stefan Reuter
  3. Michael Tarnat
  4. Jürgen Kohler
  5. Dieter Eilts (sub. 61' Stephan Passlack)
  6. Markus Babbel
  7. Andreas Möller
  8. Thomas Struntz
  9. Jürgen Klinsmann
  10. Thomas Häßler
  11. Fredi Bobic (sub. 70' Oliver Bierhoff)
  1. Tommy Wright
  2. Ian Nolan
  3. Gerry Taggart
  4. Colin Hill
  5. Barry Hunter,
  6. Kevin Horlock
  7. Steve Morrow
  8. Steve Lomas
  9. Iain Dowie (sub. 75' Phil Gray),
  10. Neil Lennon (sub. 85' Anton Rogan)
  11. Michael Hughes

WC Qualifier, 20 August 1997, Belfast, Windsor Park

Half Time Score: 0 – 0; Final Score: Northern Ireland 1 – Germany 3;

Germany :

- Oliver Bierhoff 72'
- Oliver Bierhoff 77'
- Oliver Bierhoff 78'

Northern Ireland :

- Michael Hughes 59'

Attendance : approx. 12,000

Managers:

 

Berti Vogts

Bryan Hamilton

Referee: José María García-Aranda Encinar ( Spain)

Teams:

 

  1. Andreas Köpke
  2. Jörg Heinrich
  3. Christian Ziege
  4. Jürgen Kohler
  5. Thomas Helmer
  6. Christian Wörns (sub. 63' Thomas Hässler)
  7. Andreas Möller
  8. Mario Basler (sub. 82' Markus Babbel)
  9. Jürgen Klinsmann
  10. Jens Nowotny
  11. Ulf Kirsten (sub. 68' Oliver Bierhoff)
  1. Aidan Davidson
  2. Ian Nolan
  3. Steve Morrow
  4. Colin Hill
  5. Gerry Taggart,
  6. Jim Magilton
  7. James Quinn
  8. Neil Lennon (sub. 64' Danny Griffin),
  9. Keith Gillespie (sub. 78' Gerry McMahon)
  10. Michael Hughes
  11. Kevin Horlock

EC Qualifier, 27 March 1999, Belfast, Windsor Park

Half Time Score: Northern Ireland 0 – Germany 2; Final Score: Northern Ireland 0 – Germany 3;

Germany:

- Marco Bode 11'
- Marco Bode 43'
- Dietmar Hamann 62'

Northern Ireland :

 

Attendance : approx. 14,000

Managers:

 

Erich Ribbeck

Laurie McMenemy

Referee: Graziano Cesari ( Italy)

Teams:

 

  1. Oliver Kahn
  2. Lothar Matthäus (sub. HT Jens Nowotny)
  3. Christian Wörns
  4. Markus Babbel
  5. Jörg Heinrich
  6. Thomas Strunz
  7. Dietmar Hamann
  8. Jens Jeremies
  9. Marco Bode (sub. 78' Michael Preetz)
  10. Oliver Bierhoff
  11. Oliver Neuville (sub. 68' Carsten Jancker)
  1. Maik Taylor
  2. Darren Patterson
  3. Mark Williams
  4. Steve Morrow
  5. Kevin Horlock,
  6. Keith Gillespie (sub. 84' Jon McCarthy)
  7. Neil Lennon (sub. 68' Danny Sonner),
  8. Steve Lomas
  9. Michael Hughes
  10. Iain Dowie
  11. Keith Rowland (sub. 68' Peter Kennedy)




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