Germany at a glance: Four-time champs look poised for another title run

Germany is tied with Italy with four World Cup championships, one behind Brazil. The Mannschaft’s first title, in 1954, symbolized the country’s recovery from World War II and was dubbed “The Miracle of Bern.” They also captured the championship in 1974, 1990, and 2014.

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The Germans made a promising World Cup start in 1934, finishing third after falling to Czechoslovakia in the semifinals. They opened with a 5-2 win over Belgium, as 19-year-old Edmund Conen became the youngest player to complete a hat trick in the WC (a record broken by 17-year-old Pelé in 1958). Germany faltered in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, and the 1938 World Cup, despite annexing Austria and adding some of its best players.

In 1954, inspired by captain Fritz Walter, the then-West Germans rebounded from an 8-3 loss to Hungary, defeating the Magyars, 3-2, in the final. Down, 2-0, after eight minutes, Germany rallied as Max Morlock cut the deficit in the 10th minute, and Helmut Rahn converted in the 18th and 84th minutes.

Legendary coach Sepp Herberger was credited with creating the foundation for Die Mannschaft to kick off a remarkable run in which Germany made it to at least the quarterfinals 14 successive times — including seven finals, and four championships. Herberger brought in Hamburg forward Uwe Seeler, who captained the team through 1970, but failed to capture a title.

Assistant coach Helmut Schön took over following Herberger’s 28-year run, and guided Germany to the 1966 final, a 4-2 extra time loss to England; the 1970 semifinals, a 4-3 extra time “Game of the Century” defeat to Italy; and the 1974 title over the Dutch as host country. Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller, and keeper Sepp Maier were among the leaders on the ’74 title team, along with winning the 1972 European Championship, plus three successive UEFA Champions Cups with Bayern Munich (1974-76).

During that era, East Germany also had success, becoming the only team to defeat the West Germans in the ’74 World Cup, and also capturing the 1976 Olympic gold medal in Montreal.

From 1982-90, Germany became the first country to make it to three successive World Cup finals, winning the 1990 title in Italy as Beckenbauer became the second person (after Brazil’s Mario Zagallo) to win a World Cup as a player and coach. Team leaders included captain Lothar Matthäus, defender Andreas Brehme, and striker Jürgen Klinsmann, teammates at Italian powerhouse Inter Milan. Brehme converted a controversial, 85th-minute penalty kick to take a 1-0 win over defending champion Argentina in Rome.

Unification was expected to improve the talent pool, as Germany captured the 1996 European Championship at home. But the Mannschaft did not return to the World Cup final until 2002, losing to Brazil in Yokohama, Japan. Playing host to the finals for the second time in 2006, Germany finished third under Klinsmann, who later guided Team USA.

Assistant Joachim Löw succeeded Klinsmann, and led Germany to the 2014 title, defeating hosts Brazil, 7-1, in the semifinals, and Argentina, 1-0 in overtime, on Mario Götze’s 113th-minute goal in the final in Rio de Janeiro.

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Germany counts on youngsters Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz to create in midfield, leaving the finishing to forward Kai Havertz and right wing Leroy Sané. Holding midfielders Felix Nmecha and Aleksandar Pavlovic are threats going forward.

Veteran central defenders Antonio Rudiger and Jonathan Tah steady the back line, in front of 40-year-old keeper Manuel Neuer. Captain Joshua Kimmich is free to “invert” to support the midfield from his right back spot. At left back, David Raum and reserve Nathaniel Brown are expected to support Wirtz, and also join the attack.

▪ Victoria Sport Club of West Roxbury fielded soccer teams in the Boston and District League from the early 1920s-on. Others included Boston German-Americans, Boston Germania, and Norwood Kickers.

▪ On May 27, 1964, Uwe Seeler scored four goals as Hamburg defeated Boston SC before a crowd of 6,000 at Chelsea Memorial Stadium.

▪ Germany practiced at the Revolution Training Center before Julian Nagelsmann’s coaching debut, defeating the United States, 3-1, at Rentschler Field in East Hartford in 2024.

Population: 83 million

Square miles: 357,000

Nickname: Die Mannschaft

World Cup hero: Fritz Walter

Player to Watch: Jamal Musiala

Leading scorer: Miroslav Klose (71 goals)

Coach: Julian Nagelsmann, 38 (Landsberg am Lech, Germany)

World Cup record: 21st appearance (70-24-21)

Best finish: Champions (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014)

Schedule: Monday, Round of 32 vs. Paraguay (Foxborough, 6 p.m.)

Formation: 4-2-3-1 (Neuer; Kimmich, Rudiger, Tah, Raum; Pavlovic, Nmecha; Sané, Musiala, Wirtz; Havertz).

How they got here: Defeated Curaçao (7-1) and Ivory Coast (2-1), then lost to Ecuador (2-1), finishing first in Group E. Reserve forward Deniz Undav scored once against Curaçao and 77th-minute decider to Ecuador, as Gonzalo Plata poked a corner kick past Neuer.

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Odds: +550