Germany national football B team
Encyclopedia
Germany B is a secondary team for the national football team of Germany
, used to try out and develop players for potential inclusion for the first team. The team - which has not been active since 2006 - can play against other nations' B-teams, or against full national teams, but its matches are not considered full internationals. In its last incarnation the team was named Team 2006, as a development team for the 2006 FIFA World Cup
, which was to be hosted in Germany.
, the national team was in decline - the squad was aging, with little in the way of emerging talent. After the team was knocked out in the first round of Euro 2000, the German Football Association
decided to form 'Team 2006' - a development team for young players, with the hope of producing a squad that could perform at the 2006 World Cup. The team played ten fixtures between 2002 and 2005, with four wins, four draws and two defeats.
Ultimately, only four players from Team 2006 were part of the World Cup squad - Tim Borowski
, Arne Friedrich
, Mike Hanke
and Timo Hildebrand
. However, Manuel Friedrich
, Alexander Madlung
, Clemens Fritz
, Stefan Kießling
, Simon Rolfes
, Robert Enke
, Patrick Helmes
and Mario Gómez
went on to play full internationals, as did Daniel Bierofka
, Marco Engelhardt
, Fabian Ernst
, Frank Fahrenhorst
, Ingo Hertzsch
, Tobias Rau
, Andreas Hinkel
and Kevin Kurányi
, who had already been capped before their Team 2006 debuts.
The team was coached by Uli Stielike
(2001-2003) and later Erich Rutemöller
(2003-2005).
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....
, used to try out and develop players for potential inclusion for the first team. The team - which has not been active since 2006 - can play against other nations' B-teams, or against full national teams, but its matches are not considered full internationals. In its last incarnation the team was named Team 2006, as a development team for the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
, which was to be hosted in Germany.
Team 2006
In 2000, when Germany was selected to host the World Cup2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
, the national team was in decline - the squad was aging, with little in the way of emerging talent. After the team was knocked out in the first round of Euro 2000, the German Football Association
German Football Association
The German Football Association is the governing body of football in Germany. A founding member of both FIFA and UEFA, the DFB organises the German football leagues, including the national league, the Bundesliga, and the men's and women's national teams. The DFB is based in Frankfurt and is...
decided to form 'Team 2006' - a development team for young players, with the hope of producing a squad that could perform at the 2006 World Cup. The team played ten fixtures between 2002 and 2005, with four wins, four draws and two defeats.
Ultimately, only four players from Team 2006 were part of the World Cup squad - Tim Borowski
Tim Borowski
Tim Borowski is a German footballer, who currently plays as a midfielder for Werder Bremen. He is a central midfielder, adept at tackling and attacking although best known for his passing and vision.-Early career:...
, Arne Friedrich
Arne Friedrich
Arne Friedrich is a German international football defender, who plays for the German national team....
, Mike Hanke
Mike Hanke
Mike Hanke is a German football player who plays the position of striker, with Germany's Borussia Mönchengladbach.-Club career:Hanke made his debut in the 2001–02 season of the German Bundesliga for Schalke 04...
and Timo Hildebrand
Timo Hildebrand
Timo Hildebrand is a German professional football goalkeeper who is currently signed with Schalke 04.Hildebrand holds a Bundesliga record for keeping a clean sheet for 884 consecutive minutes in 2003–04.-VfB Stuttgart:...
. However, Manuel Friedrich
Manuel Friedrich
Manuel Friedrich is a German footballer who plays for Bayer 04 Leverkusen as a central defender.-Club career:...
, Alexander Madlung
Alexander Madlung
Alexander Madlung is a German footballer who plays for VfL Wolfsburg.-Club career:Madlung started his career at Hertha BSC before moving to VfL Wolfsburg in 2006.-International career:...
, Clemens Fritz
Clemens Fritz
Clemens Fritz is a German footballer who plays as a right back for Werder Bremen. He is well known for his pace, passing and team effort.-Club career:...
, Stefan Kießling
Stefan Kießling
Stefan Kießling is a German footballer who currently plays as a striker for Bayer Leverkusen and Germany. He has also represented the German national team six times.-1. FC Nuremberg:...
, Simon Rolfes
Simon Rolfes
Simon Rolfes is a German footballer who currently plays for Bayer Leverkusen.-Club career:...
, Robert Enke
Robert Enke
Robert Enke was a German football goalkeeper.Enke played at leading clubs in several European countries, namely Barcelona, Benfica and Fenerbahçe, but made the majority of his appearances for Bundesliga side Hannover 96 in his homeland.He won eight full international caps for the German national...
, Patrick Helmes
Patrick Helmes
Patrick Helmes is a German football striker who plays for VfL Wolfsburg. Until September 2007 he was captain of 1. FC Köln.-Early career:...
and Mario Gómez
Mario Gómez
Mario Gómez García is a German footballer who plays as a striker for FC Bayern Munich in the German Bundesliga. Gómez joined Bayern after six years in Stuttgart. The fee was a record for a player transferred in the Bundesliga, estimated to be 30–35 million euro...
went on to play full internationals, as did Daniel Bierofka
Daniel Bierofka
Daniel Bierofka is a German footballer who plays for 1860 Munich.-Club career:Bierofka came through the Bayern Munich youth system and made it to the reserve squad but never played for the senior team. He then transferred to city rival 1860 Munich where he played 55 games in two seasons...
, Marco Engelhardt
Marco Engelhardt
Marco Engelhardt is a German footballer who currently plays for Karlsruher SC.- Career :He previously played for FC Rot-Weiß Erfurt, 1. FC Nuremberg and 1. FC Kaiserslautern. On 3 March 2007, he played his first Bundesliga match for Nuremberg against Arminia Bielefeld...
, Fabian Ernst
Fabian Ernst
Fabian Ernst is a German footballer who plays for Beşiktaş J.K. as a midfielder.- Career :He started his career with Hannover 96. From 1998 to 2000 he played for Hamburger SV in the Bundesliga, playing in 48 games, but scoring no goals. The midfielder turned then to Werder Bremen. In 152 games in...
, Frank Fahrenhorst
Frank Fahrenhorst
Frank Fahrenhorst is a German footballer, currently with FC Schalke 04 II.- Career :...
, Ingo Hertzsch
Ingo Hertzsch
Ingo Hertzsch is a German football player currently playing for RB Leipzig. Hertzsch acquired fan hero status at RB Leipzig during its inaugural season for his solid play and leadership on the pitch....
, Tobias Rau
Tobias Rau
Tobias Rau is a retired German footballer, who played as a left defender.In a career blighted by injuries, he was forced to retire at only 27.-VfL Wolfsburg:...
, Andreas Hinkel
Andreas Hinkel
Andreas Hinkel is a German footballer who currently plays for German Bundesliga club SC Freiburg.He is a right back and has 21 caps for Germany....
and Kevin Kurányi
Kevin Kurányi
Kevin Dennis Kurányi is a German footballer who plays in Russia for Dynamo Moscow. He is a striker who possesses great aerial ability and finishing skills.- Early life :...
, who had already been capped before their Team 2006 debuts.
The team was coached by Uli Stielike
Uli Stielike
Ulrich "Uli" Stielike is a German football manager and former player.-Club career:Stielike was a West Germany youth international for hometown club SpVgg Ketsch when he got signed by UEFA Cup runner-up Borussia Mönchengladbach in 1973, first coming to action as a full back for the then two times...
(2001-2003) and later Erich Rutemöller
Erich Rutemöller
Erich Rutemöller is a German football coach and retired footballer.-Coaching career:...
(2003-2005).