German football is mourning the death of two former internationals with both Ottmar Walter and Heinz Flohe passing away on Saturday night.

Walter, a World Cup winner from 1954, and Flohe, a 1974 world champion, both died of natural causes.

“This is sad news for all of German football,” said the president of the German Football Association (DFB) Wolfgang Niersbach.

“Ottmar Walter was a player who made the miracle of Berne possible and became a role model for an entire generation.

“He and his brother Fritz will always go down in the history of the DFB.

“Heinz Flohe was an extraordinary player who will never be forgotten.

“Our sympathy goes to his family.”

Walter was part of the famous Germany side which defeated Hungary against all odds to win the World Cup in Switzerland in 1954 and he picked up a total of 21 caps.

Flohe played 39 times for his country and enjoyed domestic success with Cologne, winning a league and cup double in 1978 and playing a total of 343 Bundesliga games, scoring 81 goals.

The former midfielder fell into a coma in 2010 after collapsing in the street and never recovered.

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