Qualifiers

After having not had to play a World Cup qualification match for over a decade – they qualified for the finals as hosts in 1974 and as holders in 1978 – the qualification round for the 1982 FIFA World Cup came at the height of Germany’s dominant spell under Jupp Derwall. Drawn in a group of five teams alongside Albania, Austria, Bulgaria and Finland, the Nationalmannschaft swept everyone aside in winning all eight of their matches, scoring thirty-three goals at an average of just over four a game and conceding just three. The campaign had started with a 3-1 win over Bulgaria in Sofia in December 1980, and ended less than a year later when the same opposition were dispatched 4-0 in Düsseldorf.

Given the relative ease with which Derwall’s side won their qualifying group there was little in the way of drama or tension throughout the campaign, with the only slight blip coming in the home game against Austria when Walter Schachner had given the visitors a shock lead after a quarter of an hour – only for things to be turned around within five minutes as the Mannschaft set themselves up for a comfortable 3-1 win. All eight matches were won by two clear goals or more, with seven goals being racked up against against Finland and poor Albania being subjected to an 8-0 thrashing in Dortmund.

In the scoring charts the prolific Karl-Heinz Rummenigge led the way with nine goals in eight matches including two hat-tricks, while veteran Klaus Fischer also weighed in with seven goals.

Up until the qualifiers for the 2012 European Championships that saw Joachim Löw’s team achieved a perfect ten wins from ten games, the 1982 World Cup qualifying campaign had been the only time any German team had achieved a hundred percent record.

Match Results and Details

v Bulgaria, Vasil Levski Stadium, Sofia, 03.12.1980

3-1 (2-0)
Kaltz 14., pen 36., Rummenigge 54. / Yonchev 66.

Team: Schumacher – Kaltz, Stielike, Kh. Förster, Dietz (c) – Briegel, Magath (72. Votava), Ha. Müller – Kh. Rummenigge, Hrubesch, K. Allofs (72. Borchers)

Goal Info:

1-0 A short corner and a Felix Magath cross into the Bulgarian box from the left floats over the crowded penalty area, falling to Manny Kaltz who beats Bulgarian ‘keeper Hristo Hristov at his near post with a delightful shot with the outside of his right boot.

2-0 A well-timed pass from Horst Hrubesch is played in the path of the advancing Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, whose run in towards the Bulgarian goal is thwarted by Christov. Kaltz’s penalty is placed high in the top right-hand corner, and is too good for the ‘keeper who dives the right way.

3-0 Bernard Dietz thumps a long ball forward into the Bulgarian half, and there appears to be little danger for the Bulgarians until the centre-back fails to keep control of the ball and is robbed by Rummenigge. Rummenigge keeps his cool and slots the ball to Hristov’s right.

3-1 A long Bulgarian ball into the German penalty area is not dealt with by Dietz, and he is robbed of possession by Tsvetan Yonchev. Yonchev takes the opportunity to take the ball past Toni Schumacher before putting it into the empty net from close range.

v Albania, Qemal Stafa, Tiranë, 01.04.1981

2-0 (1-0)
Schuster 9., 71. / –

Team: Schumacher – Kaltz, Stielike, Kh. Förster (74. Wechsel Hannes), Dietz (c) – B. Schuster – Magath, Ha. Müller – Kh. Rummenigge, Hrubesch, K. Allofs

Goal Info:

1-0 Bernd Schuster picks up the ball out on the left midway inside the Albanian half, and confidently advances before accelerating towards the penalty area. He unleashes a firm and well-placed right-footed shot that flies past the diving ‘keeper Jani Kaçi and into the right-hand corner of the net.

2-0 Klaus Allofs plays the ball to Felix Magath out on the left, and Magath’s cross into the Albanian penalty area is slightly overhit and chased down by Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. Rummenigge hooks the ball into the six-yard box, where it is swept in on the half-volley by Schuster.

v Austria, Volksparkstadion, Hamburg, 29.04.1981

2-0 (2-0)
Krauss og 30., Fischer 36. / –

Team: Schumacher – Kaltz, Stielike, Kh. Förster, Briegel – B. Schuster, Breitner, Magath, Ha. Müller – Kh. Rummenigge (c), K. Fischer (78. Allgöwer)

Goal Info:

1-0 Bernd Schuster collects a pass from Manny Kaltz in midfield, and charges through the centre towards the Austrian penalty area. He plays a smart through-ball out to the left for Felix Magath to chase, but German-born defender Bernd Krauss slides in to get there first and put the ball into his own net past ‘keeper Fred Koncilia.

2-0 Schuster puts Kaltz through on the right with a well-timed pass, and the fullback skips past an opponent to make his way to the byline and putting in a testing cross. Rummenigge’s header forces Koncilia into a good reaction save, and he is quick enough to square the rebound for Klaus Fischer to tap it into the empty net.

v Finland, Keskusurheilukenttä Stadion, Lahti, 24.05.1981

4-0 (3-0)
Briegel 26., Fischer 37., 80., Kaltz 40. / –

Team: Schumacher – Kaltz, Hannes, Kh. Förster, Briegel – Dremmler, Breitner, Magath (76. Allgöwer) – Kh. Rummenigge (c) – K. Fischer, Ha. Müller (76. Borchers)

Goal Info:

1-0 Hans-Peter Briegel picks up the ball from Karl-Heinz Förster inside the Finnish half, and rolls it out to Felix Magath on the left. Continuing his forward run into the opposition box, Briegel collects the return pass before crashing a left-footed shot past ‘keeper Olli Matias Isoaho.

2-0 After the Finns fail to clear their lines Manny Kaltz plays a short ball inside to Wolfgang Dremmler, whose pass beats the offside trap to send Paul Breitner free on the right. Breitner lashes a right-footed shot on target that is brilliantly parried by Isoaho, but Klaus Fischer arrives at the far post to walk the ball into the back of the net.

3-0 Magath’s shot from distance is blocked by a Finnish defender, but the ball loops forward to Fisher to nods it up and into the penalty area. Magath runs onto it before delivering a cross into the six-yard box, and with ‘keeper Isoaho having gone walkabout Manny Kaltz flies in to score a spectacular diving header.

4-0 Fischer, goal not seen.

v Finland, Ruhrstadion, Bochum, 23.09.1981

7-1 (2-1)
Fischer 11., Rummenigge 42., 60., 72., Breitner 54., 67., Dremmler 83. / Turunen 41.

Team: Schumacher – Kaltz, Stielike, B. Förster, Briegel – Dremmler, Breitner, Magath – Borchers, K. Fischer, Kh. Rummenigge (c)

Goal Info:

1-0 Hans Peter-Briegel breaks down the right flank, passing inside to Paul Breitner who runs into the box before leaving the ball for Karl-Heinz Rummenigge back out on the right. Rummenigge runs to the byline and sends in a pin-point cross for Klaus Fischer, who heads the ball into the net past ‘keeper Olli Matias Isoaho at the near post.

1-1 The Finns break down the right through Hannu Turunen. He plays the ball out to the fast-moving Pasi Jaakonsaari by the touchline, and the Finnish number eleven charges down to the byline before playing a sharp cutback into the box. Having continued his run, Turunen steers a right-footed shot that beats Toni Schumacher and goes in off the far post.

2-1 A German corner from the right is swung into the box, and is cleared by the Finnish defence only as far as Paul Brietner. Breitner nods the ball back into the danger zone, and Rummenigge manoeuvres himself brilliantly to send a spectacular overhead kick past Isoaho into the middle of the Finnish net.

3-1 Breitner picks up the ball just inside the Finnish half, and sets off on a buccaneering run forward. He skips past two opponents before playing a swift one-two with Ronald Borchers, before nutmegging another opponent and smashing the ball with his right foot past the advancing Isoaho from twelve yards.

4-1 A perfect end-to-end move engineered by Rummenigge sees the German striker move out to the left touchline before cutting back inside at pace. He squares the ball inside to Fischer, who outwits his marker to play the perfect return ball. Rummenigge has plenty of time to drill a left-footed shot to beat Isoaho at his near post.

5-1 Breitner plays the ball to Rummenigge just inside the German half, and the pair of them storm forward down the right side of the field. Rummenigge advances to the edge of the Finnish penalty area, and plays a perfectly-timed ball outside to Breitner who finishes the move with an exquisitely delicate chip with his right foot that leaves the ‘keeper with no chance.

6-1 Breitner and Rummenigge combine again, with the big-haired midfielder advancing down the centre of the pitch and playing an inadvertant one-two with a Finnish defender before playing the ball out to his FC Bayern München team-mate on the right. Rummenigge has plenty of time to hook the ball across Isoaho and into the left side of the net to complete his hat-trick.

7-1 Klaus Fischer finds Rummenigge in plenty of space out on the right, and the German number eleven advances to the edge of the box before clipping in a cross. Wolfgang Dremmler ghosts in front of his marker to glance the ball with his head to Isoaho’s right and into the left-hand corner of the net.

v Austria, Praterstadion, Wien, 14.10.1981

3-1 (2-1)
Littbarski 17., 77., Magath 20. / Schachner 15.

Team: Schumacher – Kaltz, Stielike, Kh. Förster, Briegel – Dremmler, Breitner, Magath – Littbarski, K. Fischer, Kh. Rummenigge (c)

Goal Info:

0-1 A German move is foiled by Austrian defender Bruno Pezzey, and his intelligent long ball sent down the right finds the fast-moving Walter Schachner. Schachner cuts inside and outpaces Hans-Peter Breigel before bundling the ball past the advancing Toni Schumacher from the edge of the six-yard box.

1-1 Klaus Fischer advances down the left flank and sends a high cross into the Austrian box, but the defence can’t get the ball away. It falls conveniently for the unmarked debutant Pierre Littbarski, who thrashes a right-footed volley to the left of Austrian ‘keeper Fred Koncilia who is left rooted to the spot.

2-1 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge wins a free-kick out on the right, which is swung into the Austrian box by fullback Manny Kaltz. There to meet it is Kaltz’s Hamburger SV team-mate Felix Magath, who positions himself in front of his marker to drill a powerful header past the diving Koncilia from twelve yards out.

3-1 A Kaltz corner swung in from the right is nodded into the six-yard box by Hans-Peter Briegel. Defender Hans-Dieter Mirnegg cannot get the ball away, and is dispossessed by Littbarski who fashions a shooting a chance. Littbarski’s first shot is blocked by Koncilia, but the Austrian ‘keeper cannot prevent the debutant from hitting the target at the second opportunity.

v Albania, Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, 18.11.1981

8-0 (5-0)
Rummenigge 5., 19., 43., Fischer 32., 72., Kaltz 36., Littbarski 52., Breitner pen 68. / –

Team: Immel – Kaltz (60. Matthäus), Stielike, Kh. Förster, Briegel – Dremmler, Breitner, Magath – Kh. Rummenigge (c) (51. Milewski), K. Fischer, Littbarski

Goal Info:

1-0 Flying fullback Manny Kaltz dispossesses an opponent just inside the Albanian half, and charges down the right flank. He delivers an well-placed cross that is met by the head of Karl-Heinz Rummenigge at the near post, and Albanian ‘keeper Perlat Musta has no chance.

2-0 Pierre Littbarski picks up the ball in his own half and progresses down the left flank and into the Albanian half, finding Klaus Fischer who turns his man nicely before picking out Felix Magath to his left. Magath charges past his opponent and cuts inside, and his cutback is touched on by Littbarski for Rummenigge to tap in from close range.

3-0 A neat short corner on the right see Littbarski and Kaltz outwit the Albanian defence, allowing Littbarski the space and time to put in a well-placed cross into the penalty area. The ball comes in, and a leaping Fischer is there at the edge of the six-yard box to power it past Musta into the right inside netting.

4-0 Some patient German play sees them keep possession deep in the Albanian half, and after the ball moves from one side of the pitch to the other Magath swings an inviting cross towards the right with is glanced on by Fischer towards Manny Kaltz. Kaltz controls the ball beautifully on his chest at the edge of the six-yard box before driving it into the back of the net.

5-0 A simple and very direct move sees Paul Breitner’s throw-in on the right touchline find Wolfgang Dremmler, whose curling right-foot cross into the penalty area is met by a leaping Rummenigge who sends the ball in off the left upright with Musta well beaten. Another international hat-trick for Rummenigge.

6-0 Germany win a free-kick just to the left of the D some twenty-five yards out, and Littbarski’s right-foot shot takes enough of a deflection off the defensive wall beat the unfortunate Musta who is left completely wrong-footed.

7-0 Briegel’s pass picks out Littbarksi just outside the area, and the little winger jinks past a couple of opponents before being brought down in the box. ‘Keeper Musta is sent the wrong way as Breitner’s well-struck penalty nestles in the lower left-hand corner of the net.

8-0 A poor Albanian pass out of defence is intercepted by sustitute Lothar Matthäus, who makes good ground down the middle before touching the ball out to Breitner on his right. Breitner’s cross into the box is expertly played into space, and Fischer pounces to hook it past Musta with his right boot.

v Bulgaria, Rheinstadion, Düsseldorf, 22.11.1981

4-0 (1-0)
Fischer 4., Rummenigge 49., 83., Kaltz pen 62. / –

Team: Schumacher – Kaltz, Hannes, Kh. Förster, Briegel – Dremmler, Breitner, Magath (56. K. Allofs) – Kh. Rummenigge (c), Hrubesch, K. Fischer

Goal Info:

1-0 Right-back Manny Kaltz picks out Wolfgang Dremmler on the right, whose well-placed cross into the Bulgarian penalty area is well met by a stooping Klaus Fischer. Fischer’s header flies low into the right-hand corner, giving ‘keeper Georgi Velinov no chance.

2-0 Powerful left-back Hans-Peter Briegel breaks at pace down the left flank, charging past three opponents before stabbing a low cross into the penalty area. An attempted Bulgarian clearance bounces off Velinov, and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is on hand to put the ball into the back of the net with a sweep of his right foot from a yard out.

3-0 Rummenigge picks up the ball on the left and goes on one of his characteristic runs, and having outpaced two defenders is brought down in the box. Velinov dives the right way for Manny Kaltz’s penalty, but the kick is just too good as it finds its way into the low left-hand corner of the net.

4-0 Germany win an indirect free-kick around twenty-five yards out; Breitner touches the ball to substitute Klaus Allofs, who holds it for Rummenigge to blast a curling right-foot shot that fizzes into the top left-hand corner of the net, beating Velinov’s desperate leap.

Final Group Standings

Team		P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
	Germany FR (Q)	8	8	0	0	33	3	+30	16
	Austria (Q)	8	5	1	2	16	6	+10	11
	Bulgaria	8	4	1	3	11	10	+1	9
	Albania	8	1	0	7	4	22	-18	2
	Finland	8	1	0	7	4	27	-23	2

Other results: Finland 0-2 Bulgaria; Albania 2-0 Finland; Finland 0-2 Austria; Bulgaria 2-1 Albania; Austria 5-0 Albania; Albania 0-1 Austria; Bulgaria 4-0 Finland; Austria 2-0 Bulgaria; Austria 5-1 Finland; Finland 2-1 Albania; Albania 0-2 Bulgaria; Bulgaria 0-0 Austria.

Goals Summary: Kh. Rummenigge (9), K. Fischer (7), Kaltz (5), Breitner, Littbarski (3), B. Schuster (2), Briegel, Dremmler, Magath (1), own goals (1). Total 33.