You have 7 players from the 90's onwards. The main reason that I did not pick any players from the 50's and 60's, is that the the number of teams participating was comparatively lesser. So reaching a semi finals in a tournment of 12 or 16 is not the same as reaching the semi finals of a world cup say, with 24 or 32 teams. The other reason is obviously that I havent seen any of the players you mentioned who have playeed before the 1970 world cup. What strikes me as most suprising is that you have left out Klinsmann from your C team too. That, in my view is a bit too harsh. Apart from the champions league, he has won every single title that is possible to win. he even has an olympics medal, if I recollect correctly. And he shares the 3rd place with Völler for all time goals scored for the German NT. What is more is that he was immensely popular in England. That is a rare honour for a German player in England. Many guys (and girls) became Tottenham fans just for the sake of Klinsmann. On your point on Fritz Walter and the main years of his career were lost due to events he had no say in. With all due respect to him, he was propoganda material for the Germans. His achievement is glorified by making the world cup of 54 seem of national importance.Yes, i've seen the movie, it was touching, and well made. Better than the movie 'Goal' anyways. Klinsmann on the other hand, is more of a peoples favourite. Ofcourse he is the first captain of a united Germany to lift a major trophy, if you look at it form that point of view, but this has not been given the same weightage politically and in the media as the 54 world cup.
For me it is team from WC in Italy. Briliant mixture of quality young and experience players - Kohler, Reuter, Moller, Hassler, Matheus, Klinsman, Voller, Buchwald, Breme, Litbarski..
Yeah, the players of the past got so much characters, each and every one of them, brilliant skills, marvellous pace, fantastic teamwork, unbelievable fervour which made them Champions, absolutely! They radiated the kind of football magic that captivated fans of the whole world!
Which is still not nearly as good as the teams of the late 60's-early 70's. The 72 team was frighteningly good. (not trying to knock our 90 team.. I loved that team... )
Anyways, my attempt at an all-time team... -------------------Meier------------------- ---Vogts----Kohler-----Stielike---Breitner--- --Littbarski---Beckenbauer---Matthäus----Overath--- -------------Müller----Rummenigge------------ I could fit in Seeler for Rummenigge, but I like the idea of Rummenigge and Müller playing in a forward twosome.
This question boggles the mind. There are too many possible. It is impossible to make an All-Time German Team.