National Team Managers-Part Two (Jupp Derwall: Bundestrainer (1978/1984))-Part 2 (1980 and 1981)

Year 1980

The West Germans still had one remaining inconsequential qualifier remaining in their schedule when the New Year kicked off.

They comprehensively defeated Malta (8-0) on February 27^th, 1980 at Bremen.

Derwall was pleased that the Germans were not grouped with the Hosts Italy, when the Finals draw was made.

The Euros experimentations started on April 2^nd at Munich with a Friendly vs. Austria.

The Germans won through a Hansi Muller strike.

Derwall still experimented with Nigbur and Schumacher and gave action to both in each half.

He gave debuts to giant Hamburg striker Horst Hrubesch as well as Borussia Mönchengladbach winger Karl Del Haye.

On May 13^th, they took on Poland at Frankfurt. Harald Schumacher was now the established number one between the sticks. The Germans defeated the Poles (3-1) with goals by Rummenigge, Allofs and Schuster. SV Hamburg defender Ditmar Jakobs made his debut in the second half.

For the Euros Derwall had to do without Klaus Fischer and Norbert Nigbur (both injured).

In addition, Rainer Bonhof was also injured but it was too late to call a replacement.

This was the youngest West German squad to enter the Finals of a Tournament with an average age of 24.

The 1980 Euros kicked off on June 11^th, 1980 for the West Germans against Czechoslovakia at Rome (a replay of the previous edition’s Final).

The Germans won (1-0) through a Rummnigge strike. Three days later on June 14^th at Naples, they defeated their perennial rivals Holland (3-2) through a Klaus Allofs hat trick. The match will also be remembered for Bernd Schuster’s masterful performance that made him an International Star.

In Addition, Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Lothar Matthaus made his International debut in the second half. It was the start of his 20-year career with the National team.
The Germans had already qualified for the Final and were content not to exert themselves and settled for a scoreless tie against Greece on June 17^th at Naples.

Klaus Allofs, Bernd Schuster and Bernhard Dietz were all rested so that they would not risk a second yellow card.

On June 21^st at Rome, West Germany clinched yet another International title by defeating Belgium (2-1) in the final, with two goals by Horst Hrubesch.

In doing so, Derwall maintained the tradition set by his predecessors Sepp Herberger and Helmut Schoen of winning titles as National Team managers.

Photo From: Kicker Sportsmagazin Edition, 100 Jahre Deutsche Landerspiele

(Jupp Derwall, lifting the trophy, June 22, 1980, UEFA European Championships, West Germany 2-Belgium 1)

West Germany won its second European Championship title. This had been the third straight time they had reached the Final.

They also become the first Nation to win multiple European Championship titles.
This was Derwall at his height as far as the public and the press. He seemed to have put West Germany back on a winning track and once again as one of the World’s best.

The future looked bright and World Cup success in Spain in 1982 seemed a realistic possibility.

Derwall had built a team with excellent young players such as Schumacher, Foerster, Hansi Muller, Schuster and Rummenigge and many more.

In the Fall, the Germans carried on as before in a Friendly win (3-2) at Switzerland (September 10^th).

Once again Uli Stilieke was not released by Real Madrid. The Spanish giants’ refusal to release Stilieke angered him in even more with the World Cup looming.

The player’s contract stipulated his release only for competitive International matches, not Friendlies and Real Madrid were apparently within their rights.

Derwall was furious, as he needed to make preparations and needed to see Stilieke in action in Friendlies as well before selecting him for qualifiers.

Stilieke would similarly be unavailable for West Germany’s next match an away Friendly at Holland (1-1) at Eindhoven (October 11^th).

Bayern Munich defender Kurt Niedermayer made his debut as did Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Eike Immel.

At the age of nineteen, Eike Immel became the youngest ever goalkeeper selected by West Germany.

It was also during this season (1980/81) that Franz Beckenbauer returned to the Bundesliga from New York Cosmos and joined SV Hamburg.

Naturally, this prompted questions and speculations about his return to the National Team.

Derwall (not really needing him given his age) would respond diplomatically to the speculation by saying he had to first regain his fitness, form, etc.

In the early stages of this new season, Bernd Schuster left the Bundesliga to join Spanish giants Barcelona. Derwall having problems with Stilieke’s availability with a Spanish club was met with another case that would fare even worse.

The Germans had yet another Friendly on November 19^th, 1980 at Hanover vs. France.

For once Stilieke was released by Real Madrid for the match, but such was his luck that he had to withdraw through injury.

Felix Magath and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge missed the match through injury as well. Bernd Schuster was fielded as the libero.

The in-form Germans comprehensively defeated the French (4-1).

So ineffective was France’s Michel Platini that Derwall compared him to a General inspecting the field of battle with his binoculars.

Stuttgart’s Karl Allgöwer made his National Team debut in that match.

Only one match remained to close out an excellent year. The Germans kicked off their World Cup Qualifying campaign with an away tie at Sofia vs. Bulgaria on December 3^rd.

Once again the Germans were dominant in a (3-1) win with Kaltz scoring twice (once on a penalty kick).

Bernd Schuster had pulled out from the squad claiming he had Gastric Flu. However, it was later discovered that he trained with his club Barcelona which understandably angered Derwall.

It was the beginning of his problems with Derwall and the National Team.

This was West Germany’s 23^rd straight unbeaten match under Derwall.

At this end of the year, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was elected as France Football’s Ballon d’Or winner. Bernd Schuster came in second in an exceptional year for the West Germans.

Year 1981

The New Year started for the National Team on the very first day and on a different continent (South America).

As a former World Cup Champions, the Germans participated in the ‘Mundialito’ in Uruguay.

Derwall and West Germany were to meet South American opposition as they were grouped with Argentina and Brazil.

As always Derwall could not get the release of not only Stilieke from Real Madrid, but now Schuster as well, from Barcelona.

Rainer Bonhof earned a recall which turned out to be his undoing as his poor form during the Tournament excluded him from the team for good.

Photo From : World Soccer, June 1981

(Jupp Derwall with Karl-Heinz Rumemnigge and Hansi Muller)

The Germans lost for the first time under Derwall on New Year’s Day to Argentina (1-2). On January 7^th, they were defeated (1-4) by Tele Santana’s exciting Brazilian side. This was West Germany’s worst defeat since losing (3-6) to France in the 1958 World Cup.

Bayern Munich’s Wolfgang Dremmler made his National Team debut against Brazil coming as a first half substitute for Kaltz.

It was clear that despite their positive displays in the previous couple of years, they would have to reckon with South American opposition if they were to win the 1982 World Cup.

Derwall also had to contend with some cases of indiscipline during the tour, most notably Rummenigge, Kaltz, Hansi Muller and Briegel had at one occasion broken curfew and left the team hotel, as well as incidents of heavy drinking by the German squad (as reported by their Hotel staff, who claimed the Germans had drank as much 1200 bottles of beer).

On April 1st, the Germans resumed their World Cup qualifiers with a visit at Tirana to face Albania.

A double from Bernd Schuster was sufficient for a comfortable away win (2-0) in a match where Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Wilfried Hannes made his debut.

It was afterwards that Derwall made the bold decision to recall veteran Paul Breitner to the National Team. He had last played for West Germany in 1975. He was in excellent form at Bayern Munich in a partnership with Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Derwall wanted to extend that into the National Team as well as to have his vast experience with the squad.

This would hasten Captain Bernhard Dietz’s exit from the National Team.

He was dropped for West Germany’s next World Cup Qualifier vs. Austria on April 29^th, 1981 at Hamburg.

Dietz’s spot at left-back was occupied Hans-Peter Briegel. Briegel had been pushed into the defense to accommodate Breitner in the midfield.

The Germans won (2-0) from an Austrian own goal and another goal from a returning Klaus Fischer (back after a year).

On the following month (May 19^th), Brazil’s visit at Stuttgart confirmed the Germans weakness against South American opposition as they lost for the second time against them in the same calendar year (1-2).

Once again Stilieke was not released by Real Madrid for this match and Schuster was asked to play only one half by Barcelona.

The Germans were unlucky as Paul Breitner failed to score from a twice taken penalty kick in the 80^th minute.

This was West Germany’s first home defeat since April 4, 1978, when they also lost to Brazil.

This match turned out to be Bernard Dietz’s last match for his nation.

Following the match more of Schuster’s problems with the National team would unfold. His refusal to attend a party thrown by Hansi Muller (where the entire squad was invited) angered Derwall.

Club commitments had forced him to return to Barcelona.

Derwall dropped him from West Germany’s World Cup Qualifier vs. Finland on May 24th.

The match at Lahti was comfortably won by the Germans (4-0) with the back in- form Fischer scoring twice.

In August, Derwall was tasked with managing a European Selection for a match vs. Czechoslovakia. Derwall was confused and not content as some of the players who showed up were not he had selected.

His squad included the likes of Austrian goalkeeper Friedrich Koncilia, as well as USSR’s David Kipiani and Oleg Blokhin, Italy’s Giancarlo Antognoni, Austria’s Hans Krankl and Hungary’s Tibor Nylasi among others, but were powerless against the better prepared Czechs and lost (0-4).

Before West Germany’s Friendly vs. Poland at Chorzów on September 2^nd, 1981, Derwall had to deal with more off field problems.

Bernhard Dietz sealed his fate with the National Team by openly criticizing the inclusion of Breitner, whom he felt would wield a negative influence on the rest of the squad. The new Official Captain was now Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Photo From : Fussball Magazin, Issue 2, March April 1982

(Jupp Derwall and Bernd Schuster)

More importantly it was once again Bernd Schuster who was creating controversy.

In an interview, Schuster declared that Breitner (along with Rummenigge) had too much of an influence in running the team with Derwall being powerless.

Derwall declared him persona non grata with the National team.

DfB President Hermann Neuberger had to act as mediator to try to bring Schuster back in the National Team. In the end Schuster’s serious injury (in a League match vs. Athletic Bilbao on December 13^th, 1981) would force him to miss the rest of the season including the World Cup.

As far as the match vs., Poland the Germans won (2-0) through goals by Fischer and Rummenigge. Hamburg’s Holger Hieronymus made his debut in that match.

Later in the month (September 23^rd), Germany won its fifth straight qualifier by defeating Finland (7-1) at Bochum. Rummnenigge scored a hat trick and Breitner scored twice.

On October 14^th, 1981, the Germans visited Vienna to face Austria. Derwall was faced with the injury to Borchers, Hansi Muller and Horst Hrubesch.

This match marked the debut the young Koln forward Pierre Littbarski.

He had a sensational debut and scored twice and introduced himself to the world stage.

In November the Germans finished off their World Cup qualifying campaign.

On November 18^th at Dortmund they hammered Albania (8-0) with Rummenigge scoring another hat trick and Fischer scoring twice.

Hamburg’s Jurgen Milewski made his debut for the National team replacing Rummenigge in the second half.

Four days later (November 22^nd), at Düsseldorf, the Germans defeated Bulgaria (4-0) to win all eight of their qualifiers. Rummenigge scored twice more in that match.

By the end of the year, he had been elected as France Football’s Ballon d’Or winner for the second year running. In yet another excellent year, all three top players were West German as Breitner finished second and Schuster finished third.

West Germany were clearly the best team in Europe with only Brazil seen as a realistic rival for the World Cup.

Derwall had been pleased with the re-integration of Breitner and Littbarski’s arrival promised even brighter prospects (despite the question mark hanging over Schuster’s role).