The World
Cup is nearly here with Germany facing Spain in the First Round. This will be the fifth time the sides will have met in a World Cup
setting.
In anticipation, or this Blog
Presentation with an interview, I look back at the past
encounters between the Nations.
The
Interview will be as a video link companion, while the Blog will be a
presentation of the events.
The Interviewee is:
Mr. Carles
Lozano.
Mr. Lozano is
a Spanish economist and former Catalan City Councilor. He is also a member of CIHEFE (El Centro de Investigaciones de Historia y Estadística del Fútbol
Español), Spanish Center of Investigation Of Futbol
History.
Mr. Lozano’s contact info:
Twitter: @carleslozano
My contact information:
on twitter @sp1873 and on
facebook under Soccernostalgia.
1930s and
1940s
The first matches between the nations took place at a turbulent
time in Europe’s History. Just prior to the War and during the Second World War
itself.
The very first match was in Köln on
May 12, 1935, and Spain won (2-1). The sides met in the following year at
Barcelona (February 23, 1936). This time the Germans won (2-1).
The sides met at Berlin at the height of the War
on April 12, 1942. This was a German side strengthened with Austrians. The
match ended (1-1).
Photo From: Special
Thanks to Josele Carbonell
|
(May 12,
1935, Germany 1-Spain) |
Photo From: Special
Thanks to Josele Carbonell
|
(February
23, 1936, Spain 1-Germany 2) |
_456x801.jpg)
Photo From: Die
Geschichte der Fussball Nationalmanschaft, Author: Dietrich Schulze-Marmeling
(Hrsg)
|
(April 12, 1942, Germany 1-Spain 1) |
Photo From: Österreichs
Fußball Länderspiele Chronik 1902 – 1993, Author: Anton Egger
|
(April 12, 1942, Germany 1-Spain 1) |
1950s and
1960s
The sides would meet three times in the first
two decades of the post-war. By now, West Germany was a power in World
Football.
On December 28, 1952, the Nations met at
Madrid (2-2 tie). Later in the decade, on March 19, 1958, at Frankfurt, West
Germany won (2-0). This was the first ever home win in the series.
The first competitive match between the
Nations was during the Group Round in the 1966 World Cup. The sides met for the
first time in a neutral venue at Birmingham, England. West Germany won (2-1) with
a memorable closed angle volleyed goal by Lothar
Emmerich.
 |
Photo From: Special
Thanks to Josele Carbonell
|
(December 28, 1952, Spain 2-West Germany
2) |
.jpg) |
Photo From: World Soccer, February 1970
|
(July 20, 1966, World Cup, West Germany
2-Spain 1) |
1970s
By this decade, West Germany were
established as a World Football power and had already won the World Cup once (1954) and reached a Final
(1966).
During the entire decade the sides would be
managed by Ladislao Kubala (for Spain) and Helmut Schoen (for West Germany, in
charge until 1978).
The Nations faced one another five times in
this decade (3 friendlies and two Euros matches).
On February 11, 1970, at Sevilla, Spain won
(2-0) through a double strike by Arrieta. This was Spain’s first win since the
initial 1935 match.
As part of the 1974 World Cup preparations as
host, West Germany played two matches vs. Spain within months.
On November 24, 1973, at Stuttgart,
West Germany earned a (2-1) win with a double strike from Jupp
Heynckes.
On February 23, 1974, at Barcelona, Spain
would win won (1-0).
The sides would meet one another on home and
away Quarterfinal series for the 1976 UEFA European Championships. On April
24, 1976, at Madrid, the sides tied (1-1).
On May 22, 1976, at Munich,
West Germany defeated Spain (2-0) and advanced to the Final phase of the Euros.
Photo From: Special
Thanks to Josele Carbonell
|
(February 11, 1970, Spain 2-West Germany
0) |
.jpg)
Photo From: AS Color, Issue 132, November
27, 1973
|
(November 24, 1973, West Germany 2-Spain 1) |
.JPG)
Photo From: AS Color, Issue 258, April
27, 1976
|
(April 24, 1976, UEFA
European Championships, Spain 1-West Germany 1) |
.JPG)
Photo From: AS Color,
Issue 262, May 25, 1976
|
(May 22, 1976, UEFA
European Championships, West Germany 2-Spain 0) |
Photo From: Fussball
Magazin, Issue 6, September October 1977
|
(May 22, 1976, UEFA
European Championships, West Germany 2-Spain 0) |
1980s
The sides faced each other four times in
the decade in mostly competitive matches (bar one friendly in 1986).
During the 1982 World Cup, hosted by
Spain, the sides met in a Second Round Group phase match in Madrid on July 2, 1982.
A disappointing Spain lost (1-2) on home soil and were virtually eliminated
that day.
Two years later, on June 20, 1984, Spain
defeated West Germany (1-0) in an upset win at Paris during the 1984 Euros.
Antonio Maceda’s memorable header eliminated West Germany.
On October 15, 1986, in a friendly in
Hannover, the sides met in a (2-2) tie.
The sides met once more in a Group phase
match of the 1988 Euros, hosted by West Germany. On June 17, 1988, at Munich, Rudi
Völler scored twice in a (2-0) West German win. This was the last match between
the Nations with West Germany as the Nation would be re-unified with the
Eastern part two years later.
_1962x2772.jpg) |
Photo From: Foot Magazine, Issue 15, July 1982
|
(July 2, 1982, World
Cup, Spain, Spain 1-West Germany 2) |
.jpg) |
Photo From: Onze, Issue 79, July 1982
|
(July 2, 1982, World
Cup, Spain, Spain 1-West Germany 2) |
%20-%20Copy.jpg) |
Photo From: France Football, Issue 1994,
June 26, 1984
|
(June 20, 1984, UEFA
European Championship, France, West Germany 0-Spain 1) |
_3509x3541.jpg) |
Photo From: Mondial, new series, issue
52, July 1984
|
(June 20, 1984, UEFA
European Championship, France, West Germany 0-Spain 1) |
_3035x3495.jpg) |
Photo From: Mondial, new series, issue
52, July 1984
|
(June 20, 1984, UEFA
European Championship, France, West Germany 0-Spain 1) |
 |
Photo From: Special
Thanks to Josele Carbonell
|
(October
15, 1986, West Germany 2-Spain 2) |
_2594x3645.jpg) |
Photo From: France
Football, Issue 2202, June 21, 1988
|
(June 17, 1988, UEFA European Championship, West Germany
2-Spain 0) |
1990s
Surprisingly the sides only met twice
during the entire decade. The sides met for the third time in a World Cup on
June 21, 1994, at Chicago in the United States. The match ended as a (1-1) tie
that was beneficial to both sides. The match is remembered for Juan Goicoechea’s
excellent cross/goal.
Months later, on February 22, 1995, the
sides met in a friendly at Jerez de la Frontera.
The match ended scoreless for the first (and only time) in the series.
_1076x2189.jpg) |
Photo From: France Football, Issue 2516, June
28, 1994
|
(June 21,
1994, World Cup, Germany 1-Spain 1) |
 |
Photo From: Special Thanks to Josele
Carbonell
|
(February
22, 1995, Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
0-Germany 0) |
2000s
The sides met three times
during this decade. The first two matches were friendlies, while the third was
the Final of the 2008 Euros.
On August 16, 2000, for Rudi
Völler’s very first match in charge of Germany at Hannover, Germany won (4-1). Mehmet
Scholl and Alexander Zickler scored doubles with Raul
replying for Spain.
Raul would
score twice in the next match between the Nations on February 12, 2003, at
Mallorca (Spain won (3-1)). This was Spain’s first win since the 1984 Euros.
On June 29,
2008, Spain defeated Germany (1-0) in the Final of the Euros with Fernando
Torres’ strike.
This was
Spain’s first International title since the 1964 Euros.
This was the
reference point for the rebirth of Spain as a force at International level.
Photo From: Special Thanks to Josele
Carbonell
|
(August
16, 2000, Germany 4-Spain 1) |
.jpg)
Photo From: Onze-Mondial,
Issue 234, July 2008
|
(June 29, 2008, UEFA European Championship, Spain 1-Germany
0) |
.jpg)
Photo From: Onze-Mondial,
Issue 234, July 2008
|
(June 29, 2008, UEFA European Championship, Spain 1-Germany
0) |
.jpg)
Photo From: Onze-Mondial,
Issue 234, July 2008
|
(June 29, 2008, UEFA European Championship, Spain 1-Germany
0) |
2010s and 2020s
Two years later, the
sides met again, this time in a World Cup semifinal. On July 7, 2010, at Durban
in South Africa, Spain won (1-0) to advance to the Final of the World Cup (and win it for the first time).
The sides met in a friendly at Vigo on November 17, 2014. Germany won
(1-0) with a Toni Kroos strike. This was Spain’s first home loss to Germany
since the 1982 World Cup.
On March 23, 2018, the sides met at Düsseldorf.
The match ended as a (1-1) tie. The first tied match since 1995.
In the year 2020, the sides met twice as part of the UEFA Nations
League. The matches were played in empty stadiums due to the Coronavirus
Lockdown.
The first match on September 3, 2020, at Stuttgart ended as a (1-1) tie.
The next match on November 17, 2020, at Sevilla, saw Spain inflict a
(6-0) win over Germany with Ferrán Torres scoring a hat-trick. This was one of
the heaviest defeats suffered by Germany.
_750x1154.jpg)
Photo From: France
Football, Issue 3352bis, July 9, 2010
|
(July 7, 2010, World Cup, Spain 1-Germany 0) |
.jpg)
Photo From: Onze-Mondial,
Issue 258, July 2010
|
(July 7, 2010, World Cup, Spain 1-Germany 0) |
Photo From: L’Equipe, Year 75, No. 24144, Friday
September 4, 2020
|
(September
3, 2020, 2020-21 UEFA Nations League, Germany 1-Spain 1) |
Conclusion
On balance, the sides
appear to be relatively equal in terms on wins and goals scored.
For most of the post-War
era, Germany (West) had the edge and were one of the top sides in the World.
This changed from 2008
onwards, as Spain became a Force in World Football.
As far as the most
memorable matches, the 1984 Euros match ranks as one of the most dramatic ones.
In terms of importance,
the 2008 Euros Final and the 2010 World Cup semifinal are the most significant
matches between the Nations.
In a way these two
matches also signaled a power shift.
The recent (6-0) could be
disregarded an anomaly. It was played during the Covid Lockdown era and was not
a true indication of either side’s worth.
Note:
1-Please refer to the
video link at the top of this blog upload for the interview.
