Maspinder

Herr Doktor Maspinder is author of the philosophical work Das Meer von Unvermeidlichkeit. (The Sea of Inevitability) in which he proposes the ultimate reality of a multi-dimensional cosmos, using the eleven men of a football team as an example of multiversal reality. The Herr Doktor and his philosophy are referenced by Mr Nutt in Unseen Academicals.

Annotation

That Monty Python sketch, originally performed for German television, in which the whole of the Greek and German international football teams, save for the surprise inclusion of Python fan Franz Beckenbauer, are made up of their respective countries' star philosophers. Greece eventually win after their centre-forward has a eureka! moment concerning ball + back of net = goal.