The German Bundesliga is currently 26 weeks old with powerhouses Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund equal top of the table, boasting 60 points each, while RB Leipzig sit third on 49.
It’s been a tense season amongst the top tier, with Dortmund nearly ten points clear during the height of the German winter.
However, the gap was closed by Munich, arguably one of the best clubs in the world, having leapfrogged their bitter rivals into first place on goal difference at the pointy end of the competition.
However, in the Champions League, both failed to make it past the round of 16.
Bayern Munich lost 3-1 to English Premier League frontrunners Liverpool FC, while Dortmund endured a 4-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
Meanwhile, the national team’s World Cup campaign last year was a 2014 hangover, the reigning champs failing to get out of the group stage.
Joachim Low’s side registered just one win – against Sweden, thanks to a Toni Kroos stoppage-time free kick – but were defeated by South Korea and Mexico to finish last in group F.
Between the failure of Germany’s biggest clubs in the Champions League and the national team’s disastrous World Cup, are we seeing the end of a dominant era?
Perhaps some senior players need to make way for youth, with the likes of 23-year-old superstar Leroy Sane scoring 15 goals accompanied by 13 goal assists across all competitions for Manchester City.
Or perhaps other nations and leagues are improving across the globe? Perhaps Germany has taken a step back, while the rest of Europe has taken a step forward?
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
As a German fan there are a few points I'd like to make: 1. The Ozil and Gundogan situation was handled wrong the DFB should've done a lot better rather than just let the press make up bull. Kroos was respnsible for the loss vs Mexico yet Ozil got the blame. Ozil created the most chances in the WC despite only playing 2 games so he was ultimately made into a scapegoat. 2. Low selected the wrong squad for the World Cup. Most of them just weren't hungry enough to win or do well again. The Confed Cup squad would've done a lot better IMO. Look at Neuer. He was injured for 10 months or thereabouts and he was still chosen ahead of Ter Stegen who had a very good season. What does that say to Ter Stegen? 3. Low staying after World Cup. By the time the Germans were knocked out - Zidane, Conte, even Wenger (would do well in internationals not club football) were free. Low has tried to change by bringing in young players but his constant change of tactics aren't doing Germany any good 4. Over dominance from Bayern Munich in Bundesliga. Bayern dominating Bundesliga and buying young German talents from Schalke and Dortmund have ruined the Bundesliga. I hope players like Kai Havertz and Lukas Klostermann stay at their clubs rather than taking the route to Bayern. 5. Grindel. Piss off you racist bastard. How can you hold a role in the DFB when you have expressed anit-immigrant views and yet the German team is full of immigrants or parents who are immigrants? Good performance against Serbia though unlucky not to win. If Sule and Tah can keep Depay quiet against Netherlands, should be a good performance against the Oranje.
reuster75
Roar Rookie
I think a big factor that isn't mentioned is that the best managers in the world are either in the EPL or La Liga. By the same token judging the strength of German football on the champions league doesn't take into account that a) Schalke are a club that has a history of flattering to deceive and rarely put two good seasons in a row together, b) Dortmund are a very young side and aren't ready to compete consistently at a high level yet and c) this current Bayern side has reached its end point and is in desperate need of regeneration. I expect next season they'll have a completely new squad (and likely a new manager) and be right up there in contention again. As for the national team Low should've left after Brasil as that was the natural end point of that generation so someone else needed to come in and start a regeneration whilst being in such a position of strength. He certainly should've been sacked after Russia as he got everything wrong - squad selection, team selection, tactics. Argubaly he should've been sacked after Euro 2016 as the warning signs were clearly there then. There is still plenty of talent in German football as evidenced by a virtual second XI winning the confeds cup in 2017 so I think they'll be right up there again at the euros next year. After all last time they left a major tournament at the group stage (euro 2000) they made the final of the next one (2002 world cup).
Bruz
Roar Rookie
Good point, although it seems Dortmund have the upper hand at distributing talent. Bayern poch a lot of Dortmund talent. Look at Lewandoski as an example, the best striker in the world in my opinion. Germany also lost 3-0 to The Netherlands in the nations league. Probably just a rough patch like most nations go through.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Germany's failure last world cup reminds me a bit of Italy in 2010 and France in 2002. In other words, these things happen, I wouldn't read too much into it. As for Germany's club scene, one key point to make is that of the big five or six leagues, it's been one of the more egalitarian for a very long time. Sooner or later, the big money in the Premier League had to start showing up in the Champions League, if anything, it has taken longer than expected to manifest itself. The two big La Liga clubs might be able to withstand for a while, maybe the one big Italian club, certainly the one big French club, but with the German clubs traditionally spreading the talent across more clubs, they might be disadvantaged somewhat.