Erich Juskowiak
Encyclopedia
Erich Juskowiak was a former football (soccer) player for the German national team
between 1951 and 1959. He earned 31 caps and 4 goals for Germany. His position was left back. He played in the World Cup Finals in 1958
where Germany reached the semi-final.
Juskowiak served in World War II
where he got injured several times and even survived a shot in the head. After the war, Juskowiak joined Rot-Weiß Oberhausen
where he began as an outside forward
. It soon was discovered though that he was more useful as a defender. After switching to the right back
position, he got the attention of German national team coach
Sepp Herberger
and debuted in the German national team
on December 23, 1951, against Luxembourg
.
Juskowiak's hopes of making the 1954 German World Cup squad
however did not materialize, as it would take three years before he would play again for Germany (December 1954). Switching from right back
to left back frequently in the next two years, Juskowiak finally settled as a left back in 1957. By that time, Juskowiak was rated as one of the best full backs in Germany. Based on his performances in 1958 and 1959, Kicker (sports magazine)
rated him world class in their biennal Rangliste des deutschen Fußballs (ranking list of German football). He was mostly known for his very hard shot, which earned him his nickname "Hammer".
The pinnacle of his career came when he was a starter for West Germany
in the 1958 FIFA World Cup
. In the semifinal against hosts Sweden
, his opponent was outside right Kurt Hamrin
. After Juskowiak was fouled by Hamrin, he struck Hamrin down in revenge and was sent off in the 59th minute. He was the first German player to be sent off in a World Cup
game.
After several injuries, Juskowiak ended his career in 1962. His last game for Fortuna Düsseldorf
ended on a less laudable note: after a verbal dispute with spectators in the game against VfB Bottrop, he just left the pitch shortly before the end of the game without returning.
He died in 1983 from a heart failure while driving his car. A year earlier, in April 1982 he had traveled to Gothenburg
to make up with Kurt Hamrin
.
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
between 1951 and 1959. He earned 31 caps and 4 goals for Germany. His position was left back. He played in the World Cup Finals in 1958
1958 FIFA World Cup
The 1958 FIFA World Cup, the sixth staging of the World Cup, was hosted by Sweden from 8 June to 29 June. The tournament was won by Brazil, who beat Sweden 5–2 in the final for their first title. To date, this marks the only occasion that a World Cup staged in Europe was not won by a European...
where Germany reached the semi-final.
Juskowiak served in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
where he got injured several times and even survived a shot in the head. After the war, Juskowiak joined Rot-Weiß Oberhausen
Rot-Weiß Oberhausen
Rot-Weiß Oberhausen is a German association football club in Oberhausen, North Rhine-Westphalia. The club was formed as Oberhausener SV in December 1904 out of the merger of Emschertaler SV and the football enthusiasts of Oberhausener TV 1873...
where he began as an outside forward
Outside forward
Outside forward is a position in association football which refers to a footballer who plays as an advanced forward on the right or left wing - as an outside right or outside left. Typically as part of a 2-3-5 formation or one of its variants...
. It soon was discovered though that he was more useful as a defender. After switching to the right back
Right Back
-Guest Artists:This album features many additional artists, including:* Barrington Levy, performing on "Righteous Dub" & "Saw Red"* H.R., performing on "New Sun"* Dangr, performing on "Kick Down"* Tippa Irie, performing on "Sensi"...
position, he got the attention of German national team coach
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
Sepp Herberger
Sepp Herberger
Josef "Sepp" Herberger was a German football player and manager...
and debuted in the German national team
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
on December 23, 1951, against Luxembourg
Luxembourg national football team
The Luxembourg national football team is the national football team of Luxembourg, and is controlled by the Luxembourg Football Federation. The team play most of their home matches at the Stade Josy Barthel, in Luxembourg.- History :...
.
Juskowiak's hopes of making the 1954 German World Cup squad
1954 FIFA World Cup squads
Below are the squads for the 1954 FIFA World Cup tournament in Switzerland. This was the first World Cup where the players were assigned squad numbers.-Brazil :Head coach: Zezé Moreira-Yugoslavia :...
however did not materialize, as it would take three years before he would play again for Germany (December 1954). Switching from right back
Right Back
-Guest Artists:This album features many additional artists, including:* Barrington Levy, performing on "Righteous Dub" & "Saw Red"* H.R., performing on "New Sun"* Dangr, performing on "Kick Down"* Tippa Irie, performing on "Sensi"...
to left back frequently in the next two years, Juskowiak finally settled as a left back in 1957. By that time, Juskowiak was rated as one of the best full backs in Germany. Based on his performances in 1958 and 1959, Kicker (sports magazine)
Kicker (sports magazine)
kicker Sportmagazin is Germany's leading sports magazine and is focused primarily on football. The magazine was founded in 1920 by German football pioneer Walther Bensemann and is published twice a week, usually Monday and Thursday, in Nuremberg...
rated him world class in their biennal Rangliste des deutschen Fußballs (ranking list of German football). He was mostly known for his very hard shot, which earned him his nickname "Hammer".
The pinnacle of his career came when he was a starter for West Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
in the 1958 FIFA World Cup
1958 FIFA World Cup
The 1958 FIFA World Cup, the sixth staging of the World Cup, was hosted by Sweden from 8 June to 29 June. The tournament was won by Brazil, who beat Sweden 5–2 in the final for their first title. To date, this marks the only occasion that a World Cup staged in Europe was not won by a European...
. In the semifinal against hosts Sweden
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
, his opponent was outside right Kurt Hamrin
Kurt Hamrin
Kurt Roland Hamrin is a former Swedish footballer. He is currently the seventh highest goalscorer of all-time in Italy's Serie A with 190 goals. He was best known as goal scoring winger with incredible dribbling ability.-Career:Hamrin first played for AIK in Sweden, whom he joined in the 1952-53...
. After Juskowiak was fouled by Hamrin, he struck Hamrin down in revenge and was sent off in the 59th minute. He was the first German player to be sent off in a World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
game.
After several injuries, Juskowiak ended his career in 1962. His last game for Fortuna Düsseldorf
Fortuna Düsseldorf
' is a German association football club based in Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, currently playing in the second tier of German league football, the 2. Fußball-Bundesliga...
ended on a less laudable note: after a verbal dispute with spectators in the game against VfB Bottrop, he just left the pitch shortly before the end of the game without returning.
He died in 1983 from a heart failure while driving his car. A year earlier, in April 1982 he had traveled to Gothenburg
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
to make up with Kurt Hamrin
Kurt Hamrin
Kurt Roland Hamrin is a former Swedish footballer. He is currently the seventh highest goalscorer of all-time in Italy's Serie A with 190 goals. He was best known as goal scoring winger with incredible dribbling ability.-Career:Hamrin first played for AIK in Sweden, whom he joined in the 1952-53...
.
Clubs
- 1943-1946 FC 08 Oberhausen
- 1946-1950 RW Oberhausen
- 1950-1951 Wuppertaler SV
- 1951-1953 RW Oberhausen
- 1953-1962 Fortuna DüsseldorfFortuna Düsseldorf' is a German association football club based in Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, currently playing in the second tier of German league football, the 2. Fußball-Bundesliga...