HISTORY
Germany’s luckless goalkeeper Germany reserve goalkeeper Heinrich Kwiatkowski was on the receiving end during his FIFA World Cup appearances in Switzerland in 1954 and in Sweden in 1958, conceding 14 goals in just two matches.
At home in goal Heinrich Kwiatkowski during his time with Borussia Dortmund.
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T H E F I FA W E E K LY
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fter the final whistle sounded in Gothenburg to mark the end of Germany’s match for third place against France at the 1958 FIFA World Cup, reserve goalkeeper Heinrich Kwiatkowski turned to head coach Sepp Herberger and pleaded: “Please don’t pick me anymore.” Unsurprisingly, the request marked the end of Kwiatkowski’s international career. So what had happened to make the talented keeper throw the towel in? Born on 16 July 1926, Kwiatkowski delivered a string of exceptional league performances throughout his career, featuring for Schalke 04, Rot-Weiss Essen and Borussia Dortmund in the Oberliga West, then one of Germany’s top divisions, from his debut on 14 September 1947 until hanging up his gloves on 11 May 1963. He also won two German championship titles with BVB and made a total of 300 appearances for Die Schwarzgelben. “Kwiat” and his famous fists To many, Kwiatkowski was simply known as “Kwiat” or “Heini Fausten” (“Heini Fists”) in reference to his legendary punched clearances. Receiving a call-up to the national team is a special moment for any footballer, and representing one’s country at a FIFA World Cup an even greater privilege. Heinrich Kwiatkowski was thus full of pride when Herberger first selected him for the 1954 FIFA World Cup in Switzerland. Although Toni Turek was Germany’s first-choice goalkeeper, the man from Gelsenkirchen joined the squad as reserve keeper, ready to shoulder responsibility and replace Turek if called upon. Kwiatkowski travelled to Lake Thun for Germany’s preparatory camp, where the most memorable part of the visit was not the gruelling training sessions but an impromptu dip in the lake. Kwiatkowski boarded a boat with the squad’s third-choice goalkeeper Heinz Kubsch and when the pair went on deck for a cigarette, non-swimmer “Kwiat” fell overboard, but fortunately managed to reach the shore none the worse for his unexpected adventure. The news came as a relief to coach Sepp Herberger, who picked his second-choice keeper for Germany’s second group match against Hungary after their comfortable 4-1 opening victory over Turkey. With the Germans able to qualify for the knockout stages even if they lost to the Hungarians, provided they emerged victorious from a play-off match against a Turkish team they had already soundly defeated, Herberger fielded his B team in an attempt to obscure G ermany’s true strengths from the Mighty Magyars. Two days before the game, Herberger approached “Kwiat” and asked him: “Are you confident enough to play against Hungary?” After answering in the affirmative, Kwiatkowski took to the field for the second group match full of anticipation, but his excitement