The German national football team (Die deutsche Nationalmannschaft) represents the German Football Association (DFB) in international football competitions since 1908. After 1949, during the Cold War, the (East) German Democratic Republic fielded its own team (as the Saarland had to do until 1956, too), while the DFB team represented the (Western) Federal Republic of Germany and was generally known as West Germany. Since the former East German states joined West Germany in the German reunification of 1990, the colloquial names of both the united state and its team has reverted back to simply Germany.

Germany has been the most successful European national team at international competitions, having won a total of 3 World Cups and 3 European championships; the East German team also won an Olympic title in 1976. Germany was the first team to have appeared in three consecutive final games ('82-'90), which has since been tied by Brazil ('94-'02). Germany is the only team with 11 semifinal appearances, losing only 4 of them. The 3-1 win over Portugal was Germany's 3rd Third place finish, after 1934 and 1970, with a Fourth place in 1958 completing the resumee.