1954 World Cup Qualifying
The only time that the Saarland entered the World Cup was for the 1954 event. They were drawn in Group 1 alongside West Germany and Norway, in a triangular series. In the opening round in summer 1953, they won their only competitive away match, beating Norway 3–2 in Oslo after trailing 0–2, and with only 10 effective players, after an early substitute due to injury, and Theodor Puff staying on the field with a broken fibula. Thus they still topped the group after West Germany drew their game in Oslo. Saarland were emphatically beaten 3–0 by West Germany in Stuttgart and could only manage a 0–0 draw at home against Norway. Both German teams were placed joint first until West Germany beat Norway 5–1, putting an end to Norwegian hopes. The remaining inter-German match, to be played after a four month winter hiatus, would decide which one of the German teams should advance to the tournament in Switzerland.
Saarland, which had already secured second in the group ahead of Norway, needed a win at home to finish first, yet lost 3–1. Unbeaten West Germany topped the final ranking, went to Switzerland and won the 1954 World Cup there. Sepp Herberger would have capped Kurt Clemens for West Germany, but he was ineligible like all others who had played international games for Saarland.
This was the Saarland's only separate entry in the World Cup; its players, coaches and staff could join West Germany in time to assist in the defence of the World Cup in 1958.
Date | Venue | Home | Result | Guest |
---|---|---|---|---|
June 24, 1953 | Oslo | Norway | 2 - 3 | Saar |
August 19, 1953 | Oslo | Norway | 1 - 1 | West Germany |
October 11, 1953 | Stuttgart | West Germany | 3 - 0 | Saar |
November 8, 1953 | Saarbrücken | Saar | 0 - 0 | Norway |
November 22, 1953 | Hamburg | West Germany | 5 - 1 | Norway |
March 28, 1954 | Saarbrücken | Saar | 1 - 3 | West Germany |
Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | West Germany | 7 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 3 |
2 | Saar | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 |
3 | Norway | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 9 |
Read more about this topic: Saarland National Football Team
Famous quotes containing the words world and/or cup:
“Between what matters and what seems to matter, how should the world we know judge wisely?”
—E.C. (Edmund Clerihew)
“The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?”
—Bible: New Testament, 1 Corinthians 10:16.