national team
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national team
A sports team made up of the best players from a country in order to represent that country in international competitions such as world championships or the Olympic Games.
Das deutsche Nationalteam hat sich für die Fußball-Europameisterschaft qualifiziert.
The German national team has qualified for the European Football Championship.
The word is a clear compound of 'National' (from Nation, meaning relating to a country) and 'Team' (a team). So it literally refers to a team for the nation.
Er träumt davon, eines Tages für das Nationalteam zu spielen.
He dreams of playing for the national team one day.
Common phrases are 'im Nationalteam spielen' (to play on the national team), 'für das Nationalteam antreten' (to compete for the national team), or 'ins Nationalteam berufen werden' (to be called up to the national team). These describe participation in or selection for the team.
Die junge Spielerin wurde überraschend ins Nationalteam berufen.
The young player was surprisingly called up to the national team.
To specify the sport, it is often placed before the word. For example, people say 'Fußball-Nationalteam' (national football team), 'Handball-Nationalteam' (national handball team), or 'Basketball-Nationalteam' (national basketball team).
Das deutsche Eishockey-Nationalteam hat eine Medaille gewonnen.
The German national ice hockey team won a medal.
selection / choice
'Auswahl' and 'Nationalteam' can be connected in sports because a national team is formed through the selection of players. Here, 'Auswahl' mainly refers to the process: Who is chosen from many possible people? 'Nationalteam' refers to the finished team that represents a country. You can confuse the words when talking about sports. More precisely: the 'Auswahl' is the decision; the 'Nationalteam' is the result of that decision.
Meine Schwester sieht sich morgen das Spiel des Nationalteams an.
My sister is watching the national team's game tomorrow.
Die Auswahl der Spieler für das Turnier dauert mehrere Wochen.
The selection of players for the tournament takes several weeks.