The German national football team (Die deutsche Fußballnationalmannschaft) is the association football team representing the country of Germany in international competition since 1908 and is governed by the DFB (Deutscher Fußball-Bund or German Football Association). As a result of the occupation of Germany after World War II, and its division into separate Allied administrative zones, national teams were also fielded by East Germany and the Saarland, while the DFB continued to field a national team in the Federal Republic of Gemany (commonly known as West Germany). Saarland rejoined the federal republic after a 1956 plebicite and subsequently no longer organized a separate side as its independent football association became part of the DFB. During the Cold War period a separate league structure and related governing body emerged in the Soviet-occupied area of the country and was soon followed by the formation of a national team in 1952. After German re-unification in 1990 the football competitions of the two Germany's were merged and a single team again represented the entire country. Germany has been one of the most successful European national teams at international competitions, having won a total of three World Cups and three European championships; the East German team also won an Olympic title in 1976. Full Article on Wikipedia