Beckenbauer holds the trophy aloft (Allsport)

By Jason Hughes, PA International, Yokohama

Germany's appearance in the final will be their seventh at what is their 15th World Cup.

Of the previous six, they have won three and lost three so they will be hoping to tip the balance in their favour in Yokohama on Sunday.

Here PA Sport takes a look at the ups and downs in Germany's World Cup history:

ITALY 1934

Edmund Conen scored a hat-trick in Germany's first World Cup finals match as they beat Belgium 5-2. Their tournament was ended though when they lost 3-1 to Czechoslovakia in the semi-final.

FRANCE 1938

Germany left a World Cup without a win for the only time in their history, losing 4-2 to Switzerland in a first-round replay.

SWITZERLAND 1954

After missing the first post-war World Cup in Brazil, they won the competition for the first time on their return. West Germany were the underdogs in the final against the Hungary of Ferenc Puskas, but fought back from two goals down to win 3-2, having lost 8-3 to the Magical Magyars at the first-round stage.

SWEDEN 1958

As defending champions, they made it to the semi-finals before coming up against the hosts. Sweden, dubbed the mercenaries, were a solid unit and triumphed 3-1 before losing to a Pele-inspired Brazil in the final.

CHILE 1962

Following two wins and a draw in a very physical tournament, West Germany were eventually outmuscled in the quarter-finals by Yugoslavia in a 1-0 defeat.

ENGLAND 1966

A Russian linesman and an inspired hat-trick later, and West Germany had lost in a World Cup final for the first time. They came to the final against England brimming with confidence but Geoff Hurst's three goals meant Bobby Moore lifted the Jules Rimet trophy after a 4-2 extra-time win.

MEXICO 1970

The Germans gained revenge four years later by coming from two goals down to beat England 3-2 in extra-time of their quarter-final. However they went out at the next hurdle in a titanic battle with Italy. Captain Franz Beckenbauer played on in extra-time with a dislocated shoulder, his arm strapped to his body in a sling, but his bravery was not rewarded as they lost 4-3.

WEST GERMANY 1974

After the Jules Rimet trophy was kept by Brazil following their third triumph, the legendary Beckenbauer became the first skipper to lift the new World Cup, and he did it on home soil. Twenty years after their first success, West Germany stifled Holland's 'Total Football' to win 2-1 in the Munich final.

ARGENTINA 1978

With Beckenbauer's influence now gone, the defence of their crown was disappointing with three goalless draws and just one win in six games in South America as they went out with a whimper in the second group phase.

SPAIN 1982

West Germany lost the final 3-1 to Italy, who along with Brazil and France were the outstanding teams of a high-quality tournament. However the Germans' participation is best remembered for goalkeeper Harald 'Toni' Schumacher's neck-high assault on France's Patrick Battiston when he was through on goal in the semi-final.

MEXICO 1986

In front of 115,000 fans at the Azteca Stadium, West Germany lost their second-successive World Cup final, this time 3-2 to a Diego Maradona-inspired Argentina.

ITALY 1990

After putting England out in the semi-final on penalties, West Germany made it third-time lucky in the final by winning the Rome rematch against Argentina. A late Andreas Brehme penalty was the only goal as the South Americans finished the match with nine men.

USA 1994

Germany were unconvincing on their way to the quarter-finals before they were eventually put out of their misery by Bulgaria 2-1.

FRANCE 1998

An ageing squad fared no better four years later as players like Lothar Matthaus and Thomas Hassler reached the end of their international careers. They again went out at the last-eight stage, losing 3-0 to Croatia.