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Football at the 1960 Summer Olympics – Men's European Qualifiers – Preliminary round

East Germany West Germany 1 4
First leg
East Germany West Germany 0 2
Date	16 September 1959 (1959-09-16)
Venue	Walter-Ulbricht-Stadion, East Berlin
Attendance	0
Second leg
West Germany East Germany 2 1
Date	23 September 1959 (1959-09-23)
Venue	Rheinstadion, Düsseldorf
Attendance	0

The preliminary round of the European matches for the 1960 Summer Olympics football qualification consisted of a two-legged tie that determined the last spot of the group stage. The tie featured East Germany and West Germany, and were played in secret without any spectators permitted.

Background

During this time, the International Olympic Committee only recognized the West German Olympic Sports Confederation as the one committee for Germany. Two ideas were proposed; either a unified team would enter qualification, or East and West Germany field separate teams in a play-off for qualification.

A play-off was confirmed between the two teams, as well as the matches played secretly and without spectators. Scottish newspaper The Glasgow Herald reported that those only present in the stands were team managers, trainers, and 60 newspaper journalists. Despite the secretive prospect of the matches, they were televised but viewers were not permitted to know the venues the matches were taking place.

Format

In the preliminary round, the two teams competed in a two-legged home-and-away playoff. The winner advanced to the group stage of the European qualification.

Teams

•  East Germany
•  West Germany

Matches

Team 1	Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
East Germany	1–4	West Germany	0–2	1–2 (a.e.t.)

East Germany	0–2	West Germany
	Report	Fischer 53' (o.g.) Dörfel 83'

West Germany	2–1	East Germany
Thimm 33' Wilkening 65'	Report	Schröter 14' (pen.)

West Germany won 4–1 on aggregate and advanced to the group stage.

Goalscorers

There were 5 goals scored in 2 matches, for an average of 2.5 goals per match.

1 goal

• Günter Schröter
• Charly Dörfel
• Joachim Thimm
• Heinz Wilkening

1 own goal

• Dieter Fischer (against West Germany)

Notes

1. Match was played in secret with no spectators permitted.
2. Match was played in secret with no spectators permitted.

References

1. "Games of the XVII. Olympiad – Football Qualifying Tournament – (Roma, Italy, 1960): EUROPE". RSSSF. 12 May 2021.
2. "Deutsch-deutsche Geisterspiele". Der Tagesspiegel Online. 18 September 2009.
3. "GERMANY UNITED IN A FOOTBALL TEAM". The Glasgow Herald. 25 September 1959. p. 9.

• Football at the 1960 Summer Olympics – Men's European Qualifiers
• 1959–60 in German football
• 1959 in East German football