National Team Managers-Part Two (Jupp Derwall: Bundestrainer (1978/1984))-Part 3 (1982)

Year 1982

The German started the World Cup preparations with a Friendly against Portugal on February 17^th, 1982 at Hannover.

The Germans won (3-1) with Klaus Fischer netting twice.

In March, Derwall took his squad on a tour of South America with matches against Brazil and Argentina.

Prior to the Germans departure Rummenigge was injured and missed the tour.

Felix Magath, Wilfried Hannes and Karl Allgöwer likewise were unavailable for the tour.

The Germans lost to Brazil (0-1) at Maracana for the third time in two years. Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Frank Mill and Koln midfielder Stefan Engels made their debuts for the National Team.

Three days later they tied Argentina (1-1) at Buenos Aires in a much-improved performance.

Lothar Matthaus came away with much credit from the tour. However, Rummenigge’s absence magnified their deficiencies in the attacking sector.

On April 14^th, they continued with a win over Czechoslovakia (2-1) at Koln.

They finished off their preparations with a win over Norway (4-2) at Oslo where Werder Bremen’s Uwe Reinders made his debut.

Derwall selected his final 22 for the World Cup in Spain. However, in an odd move, he preferred to take 19 players with him to Spain.

Holger Hieronymus, Stefan Engels and Thomas Allofs were to remain on stand-by in West Germany. When questioned about it, Derwall responded that why he should take three players who know will not see any action and will just be bored staying around the hotel.

Photo From : Sport Illustrierte-Fussball Woche, July 5, 1982

(Jupp Derwall with his DfB President Hermann Neuberger)

The Germans’ World Cup started on June 16^th, 1982 at Gijon vs. Algeria. Derwall had anticipated an easy match and had declared ``if we don't beat Algeria, I'll take the next train home.''

He would rue those words as the Algerians defeated the Germans in an upset (1-2).

On June 20^th, they got back on track by defeating Chile (4-1) through a  Rummenigge hat trick at Gijon. Uwe Reinders scored West Germany’s fourth a minute after coming on.

Lothar Matthaus made his debut in a World Cup. He would play in four more Finals.

In the last round of Group matches, Algeria defeated Chile (3-2) to have four points.

The Austrians already had four points as well. It was clear beforehand that a (1-0) victory for West Germany would qualify both European squads. Any other result would have led to the elimination of one of the two teams.

In the 10^th minute Horst Hrubesch gave the Germans the lead (his first international goal in 18 months).

For the rest of the match the two teams stopped attacking content with the result. Algerians and most neutral observers suspected foul play.

Many compared it to the notorious Argentina-Peru (6-0) match from the 1978 World Cup.

Derwall dismissed such claims but did say that the teams would have been crazy to play in any other way, since advancing to the second round was all that mattered.

In the Second Round, the Germans were grouped with the England and hosts Spain.

The Germans had to contend with a scoreless tie with England on June 29^th at Madrid’s Estadio Bernabeu. For this match Hrubesch was missing through injury and Derwall chose not to play Littbarski.

Photo From : Sport Illustrierte-Fussball Woche, July 5, 1982

(Jupp Derwall with his assistant Erick Ribbeck)

On July 2^nd, the Germans advanced to the semifinals by defeating the Spanish hosts (2-1) at Bernabeu.

The semifinal vs. France on July 8^th would enter the history books as one of the most memorable matches in the history of the World Cup. A match filled with incidents, such as Schumacher’s vicious foul on France’s Patrick Battiston (and even more surprising non-sending off).

Patrick Battiston was stretchered off and lost teeth in the incident.

The match went into overtime and France led (3-1) at one point before the Germans came back and tied the match (3-3).

This became the first match in the history of World Cup to be decided on penalty kicks.

Uli Stielieke became the first player in history to miss a penalty kick shootout, but eventually the Germans triumphed and advanced to the Final.

On July 11^th the Germans faced Italy in the Final of the World Cup at Madrid’s Estadio Bernabeu.

Paul Breitner was playing in his second World Cup Final after the one in 1974.

West Germans Karl-Heinz and Bernd Forster became the fourth pair of Brothers to appear in a World Cup Final.

The stronger and fresher Italians defeated the Germans (3-1). Paul Breitner scored Germany’s consolation goal (and now had also scored in two World Cup Final matches).

Rummenigge was ineffective as Italy’s Giuseppe Bergomi marked him out of the game.

There were many recriminations afterwards.

Stilieke publicly stated that it was a gamble to start a half fit Rummenigge in the Final. In fact he felt, as Captain Rummenigge should have stepped forward and withdrawn. According to Stilieke, West Germany had played many matches with ten men when fit and ready players were sitting on the bench.

Derwall came back from the World Cup with his credit weakened. In most nations, a runner-up position in a World Cup would have been considered a success but not with Germany and especially in the manner they achieved it.

The loss vs. Algeria, the controversy vs. Austria, the Battiston injury and many other incidents within the team had destroyed all the goodwill produced from Derwall’s first few years in charge.

Derwall soldiered on to prepare the Germans for the 1984 UEFA European Championships to be held in France.

After the World Cup, veterans such as Breitner, Hrubesch and Fischer retired from the National Team.

But there were others who refused to be available for the National out of anger at Derwall.

For West Germany’s first Friendly pot-World Cup on September 22^nd at Munich vs. Belgium (scoreless tie), Derwall had intended to select Stuttgart’s Karl Allgower.

Allgower was angered about not being selected for the World Cup and refused Derwall’s overtures.

Magath also withdrew himself from National Team selection. He was also angry with Derwall for refusing to select him for the Final of the World Cup vs. Italy.

Photo From : Fussball Magazin, january february 1983

(Jupp Derwall with Felix Magath)

On October 13^th, the Germans played a high profile Friendly vs. England at Wembley.

Karl Allgower once again refused an invite. Koln defender Gerhard Strack and Werder Bremen midfielder Norbert Meier made their International debuts.

The Germans won (2-1) through a Rummenigge double.

West Germany became the first continental team to win twice against England at their home soil.

The Germans started their Euro qualifiers at Belfast vs. Northern Ireland on November 17^th, 1982.

Derwall could not call upon Karlheinz Forster out injured, while Wolfgang Dremmler was overlooked for this match after being sent off in a Bundesliga match.

This match marked Bend Schuster’s return to the National Team after 18 months. But most importantly this was Werder Bremen striker Rudi Völler’s debut for the National team. He replaced Schuster in the 72^nd minute.

The Germans lost (0-1) to start off the qualifiers on a disappointing note and compound on their misery from the World Cup.

The year 1982 ended with Derwall under more scrutiny and pressure, as he appeared to be losing his way with the National Team.