Friendlies remained his business, mainly in times when neither Maier nor Kleff were on show for Helmut Schön. His decision to stay on with his club after relegation in 1973 ruined Franke's hopes of getting a spot in the 1974 FIFA World Cup winning squad of West Germany.
Franke's career aspirations were hindered by his loyalty to his club, which led to a missed opportunity to represent West Germany at the World Cup.