Soccer Memories-Part 57 East Germans in the Unified German National Team-Part 2 (1995-97)

 

Note:

1-For part 1, see:

https://soccernostalgia.blogspot.com/2023/05/soccer-memories-part-54-east-germans-in.html

By 1995, East Germany had been integrated with the West for five years. In the previous five years, a number of former East German players had strengthened the unified team with Matthias Sammer as the top of the pick.

He had grown in stature and the Borussia Dortmund star was now the Libero of the National Team following the injury of Lothar Matthaus.

 

In the next two years, National Team Manager Berti Vogts would select a number of other former East German players in line for the 1996 Euros and the 1998 World Cup.

 

Borussia Dortmund’s defensive midfielder Steffen Freund was handed his debut in a scoreless friendly vs. Spain on February 22, 1995, at Jerez de la Frontera.

A few months later, on June 21, 1995, Freiburg’s Jörg Heinrich was selected in a win (2-0) over Italy Zürich, as part of Swiss Federation’s Centenial Tournament.

Both players would be integral parts of the National Team in the following years.

By the end of the year, in a friendly vs. South Africa at Johannesburg, On December 16, 1995 (scoreless tie), Hansa Rostock defender René Schneider made his only appearance for the National Team.

 

Former East German International midfielder, Dariusz Wosz made his debut for the Unified German Team in a friendly vs. Israel at Tel Aviv on February 26, 1997. He scored the winning goal in a (1-0) win. It would be his only goal for the National Team. He would be part of the 2000 Euros side.

 

SV Hamburg midfielder Sven Kmetsch made his debut in a World Cup qualifier in Dortmund vs. Armenia (4-0 win) on September 10, 1997.

He was substituted in the 46^th minute and made only one more appearance for the National Team in 1998.

 

Schalke defender Thomas Linke and TSV Munich 1860 midfielder Jens Jeremies jointly made their debuts in a friendly vs. South Africa at Dusseldorf (3-0 win) on November 15, 1997.

The pair would have a long career with the National Team. The pair also joined Bayern Munich in 1998 and would be integral parts of the club’s success for the following years.

 

From this period of 1995-97, Freund, Heinrich, Linke and Jeremies made significant impact in the National Team.

Dariusz Wosz played for a number of years, but his contribution was minimal at a time when the National Team was struggling in the post-1998 World Cup and pre-2000 Euros era.

The others like Kmetsch and Schneider made fleeting appearances.

 

 

Steffen Freund

Defensive midfielder Steffen Freund was born in Brandenburg (January 19, 1970) and made his name at Stahl Brandenburg in the late 80s into the early 90s.

He earned a transfer to Schalke in 1991 and after two seasons joined Borussia Dortmund in 1993.

He would be part of the Team’s glorious 90s team and won Bundesliga titles in 1995 and 1996 and the Champions League in 1997.

He was part of Germany’s Euros winning side of 1996 and the 1998 World Cup.

After the 1998 World Cup, in December 1998, he joined the English Premier League and Tottenham Hotspur.

He would win the League Cup with the club in 1999.

After five years, he returned to the Bundesliga and joined Kaiserslautern for one season (2003/2004) as well as a loan spell back in England at Leicester City (2004).

He earned 21 caps for the German National Team (1995-1998).

 

Photo From: Fußball Bundesliga 1994-95 Junior Stickers

(Steffen Freund)

Jörg Heinrich 

Jörg Heinrich was born in Rathenow (December 6, 1969). He made his debut in 1988 for Motor Rathenow and after spells with Chemie Velten and Kickers Emde, joined newly promoted Bundesliga side Freiburg and became a professional.

Freiburg would have a good season in their first season in the Bundesliga (1994/95) and at the end of the season, the 25-year-old versatile player was rewarded with his first cap vs. Italy.

He joined Borussia Dortmund in January 1996 and won the Bundesliga title in 1996 as well as the Champions League in 1997.

He missed the 1996 Euros but made his way back into the National Team and was part of the 1998 World Cup squad.

After the World Cup, he joined Fiorentina in the Italian Serie A for two seaosons.

He returned to Dortmund in 2000 and won the Bundesliga title in 2002.

After three seasons back with Dortmund, he joined FC Koln in 2003 and wound down his career with spells at Ludwigsfelder (2004/05), Union Berlin

He earned 37 caps for the German National Team (1998-2002).

 

 

Photo From: Fußball Bundesliga 1994-95 Junior Stickers

(Jörg Heinrich)

René Schneider

René Schneider was born in Schwerin (February 1, 1973).  The defender was with Magdeburg (1989-1993) before joining BSV Brandenburg, and later Hansa Rostock in 1994.

He made a sole appearance with the National Team in a friendly in December 1995 vs. South Africa.

He would not make further appearances for the National Team but was part of the 1996 Euros winning side.

He joined Borussia Dortmund in 1996 and was part of the 1997 Champions League winning side, but he did not make many appearances in his three seasons with the club.

He rejoined Hansa Rostock in 1999 and wound down his career with spells at SV Hamburg (2001/02), VfL Osnabruck (2002/04) and SV Warnemunde (2004/07).

 

Photo From: Fußball Bundesliga 1995-96 Junior Stickers

(René Schneider)

Dariusz Wosz

Former East German International midfielder Dariusz Wosz was born in Poland at Piekary Slaskie (June 8, 1969).

He started at Hallescher SC in 1986 before joining VfL Bochum in 1992.

He earned 7 caps for East Germany (1989-1990).

He remained at Bochum until 1998 and it was there that he made his debut for the unified German National Team in February 1997, where he also scored the winning goal.

In 1998, he joined Hertha Berlin and remained there for three seasons.

In this period, he was part of the German National Team set-up until the 2000 Euros.

After Hertha, he rejoined Bochum in 2001. He wound down his career after leaving Bochum in 2007 and a final spell at Union Bergen (2007-09).

In addition, to his 7 caps for East Germany, he earned 17 caps for the German National Team (1997-2000).

 

 

Photo From: Fußball Bundesliga 1994-95 Junior Stickers

(Dariusz Wosz)

Sven Kmetsch

Sven Kmetsch was born in Bautzen, Saxony (August 13, 1970).

He made his debut at Dynamo Dresden in 1989 and won the East German League title (1989/90).

The midfielder remained at Dresden until 1995, joining SV Hamburg.

He would have a successful three-year spell (until 1998).

He would gain International recognition in this period (1997-98). After playing in a World Cup qualifier vs. Armenia in September 1997, he played in a friendly vs. Oman in February 1998 (2-0 win). He was substituted in the 46^th minute in both matches.

He joined Schalke in 1998 and retired with the club in 2005 (winning the DfB Pokal in 2001 and 2002).

He earned 2 caps for the German National Team (1997-1998).

 

 

Photo From: Fußball Bundesliga 1994-95 Junior Stickers

(Sven Kmetsch)

Thomas Linke

Thomas Linke was born in Sömmerda (December 26, 1969).

He made his debut with Rot Weiss Erfurt in (1988/89) and remained with the club until 1992.

The central defender was signed by Schalke and would have a successful spell with the club, winning the UEFA Cup in 1997.

He remained with the club until 1998, before joining Bayern Munich. He remained with the Bavarian giants until 2005, winning five Bundesliga titles, three cup Titles as well as the 2001 Champions League.

He joined Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg in 2005 (winning the League title in 2007).

After two seasons, he returned to Bayern Munich in 2007, to join its Amateur side, for one last season (2007/08).

He was capped in 1997 and would remain with the National Team until 2004 and was part of the squad that reached the 2002 World Cup Final.

He earned 43 caps for the German National Team (1997-2004).

 

 

Photo From: Fußball Bundesliga 1994-95 Junior Stickers

(Thomas Linke)

Jens Jeremies

Jens Jeremies was born in Görlitz (March 5, 1974). The midfielder made his debut with Dynamo Dresden in 1995.

He was transferred to TSV Munich 1860 in the summer of 1995 and he would make his breakthrough with the club and make his debut in with the National team in late 1997.

He would join crosstown rivals Bayern Munich in 1998 and would have a successful by being an integral part of the Bayern Munich and the German National Team set-up.

He was a member of the Germany squad that reached the Final of the 2002 World Cup.

He remained with Bayern Munich and retired in 2006. Along the way, he won six Bundesliga titles, four cup titles and the 2001 Champions League.

He earned 55 caps for the German National Team (1997-2004).

 

Photo From: Panini Fussball Bundesliga 2001-02

(Jens Jeremies)