Germany did just enough to qualify for Euro 2008 this week. A draw and a home defeat are hardly flattering, but the business is only just beginning. The national team still seems to be riding a wave of confidence. Players that hardly rate (or are even unknown) outside of Germany are proving again that the Bundesliga is producing quality on the international level. Ever heard of Trochowski or Jansen? What about Odonkor?
Sadly though, whilst they are producing the goods, the same cannot be said at club level. Failures in Europe have left the Bundesliga without a true challenger for the Champions league. And in the Bundesliga itself, the results so far point to a season full of twists and turns. Karlsruhe in second, Hamburg resurgent, Stuttgart and Dortmund struggling, and Schalke yet again offering their fans glimpses of what they are capable of… but only glimpses.
So look no further than Bayern. They seem to be the dependable force this season, sitting comfortably on top and oozing confidence. Contract negotiations with coach Hitzfeld are underway and another victory this weekend, away at Bochum, should show that all is as it should be in the Bundesliga. If you are from Munich that is.
This weeks games are:
Cottbus – Duisburg
Rostock – Schalke
Bremen – Hertha
Nürnberg – Frankfurt
Hamburg – Stuttgart
Bochum – Bayern
Leverkusen – Dortmund
Hannover 96 – Wolfsburg
Karlsruhe – Bielefeld
Nice post again Hans, what do you think is the main reason for the poor showing in European football?