This is a list of international football matches of the Germany national football team during its period as West Germany from 1950 until 1990. Following the end of World War II, Germany was partitioned into rival West and East zones, each with their own football systems. The general turmoil of the period and the country's lack of international footballing pedigree up to that point meant it was a surprise to many when West Germany won the 1954 FIFA World Cup in neighbouring Switzerland. It was in the mid-1960s when German football became very strong, with the backbone of the national squad formed by an exceptional group of young players at FC Bayern Munich, soon augmented further by another very strong team at Borussia Monchengladbach and others from the leading clubs. After reaching the 19