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Becker opener
A crowd of 3,500 braved a hailstorm to watch the match at the Sportplatz Landhof in Basel and they saw Fritz Becker put Germany ahead with his country's first goal. Switzerland quickly hit back and went into the interval 3-1 in front before the teams shared four goals after the break. Since then, Germany have seen more ups than downs, winning the FIFA World Cup in 1954, 1974 and 1990 and the UEFA European Championship in 1972, 1980 and 1996. From 1952, the team was known as West Germany for 38 years until 12 September 1990 when they defeated Belgium 2-0 in the first international match following reunification.
'Successful run'
"We've had quite a successful run," Zwanziger said. "Eight years after the DFB was founded, the national team played its inaugural game. Just think about of the achievements that were triggered by football in Germany, especially after World War II. Football always moved the people living here, either because of the many major triumphs or our defeats. We have really had an incredible journey."
Matthäus record
Germany's biggest victory was 16-0 against Russia on 1 July 1912; their worst defeat was against rivals England, 9-0 on 16 March 1909. To mark the anniversary, the 'Club of former national players' will be founded on 5 April. It will have 630 members, including Germany's most capped player Lothar Matthäus who made a record 150 appearances for his country.
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David Beckham regained the title of soccer's highest-paid player, according to France Football magazine.
Beckham's earnings from salary and endorsements soared 82 percent to 31 million euros ($48.9 million) following his switch to the Los Angeles Galaxy from Real Madrid, lifting him above Barcelona's Ronaldinho, whose income was unchanged at 24.1 million euros, the magazine's annual survey said.
The 32-year-old Beckham reclaimed the position he held for 3 years through 2005. He has a $5.5 million base salary that could boom to as much as $250 million over 5 years with endorsements and profit sharing, according to the Galaxy.
Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo rose to third and fourth, with income of 23 million euros and 19.5 million euros, respectively. It's the first time they have been in the top 10.
Jose Mourinho, who left Chelsea in September, remains the top-paid coach -- even though he isn't currently in charge of a team -- with earnings of 29 million euros, France Football said.
England coach Fabio Capello is the next, with pay of 14.2 million euros, followed by Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, who gets 7.4 million euros, the magazine said.
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