The rumors flying around regarding the future management structure of Bayern Munich and what effect it may have on the current staff of the German national staff suggests that certain people consider jumping out of the frying pan into the fire to be a good career move.
News that Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff is considering succeeding Uli Hoeness at Bayern Munich when the latter moves onto the Bavarian giants' advisory board next year also suggests that, despite his business degree from Hagen University, Bierhoff is not the smartest cookie in the jar. Click to continue reading...

After burying the hatchet with captain Michael Ballack, Germany coach Joachim Loew said Sunday that he's also ready to make peace with midfielder Torsten Frings.
Grab a box of tissues and picture this: Frings walks into the coach's office and Loew, wearing his best black turtleneck, asks the German national team stalwart to have a seat on the couch, make himself comfortable and talk about his feelings. Click to continue reading...

Did you know that you can get from London to Hoffenheim and back for around 168 euros? That includes a flight from London to Frankfurt and then a convoluted bus and train combo to the hometown of the Bundesliga leaders. A round-trip beginning in Manchester will cost you 338 euros. A journey originating from Liverpool's John Lennon International Airport will set you back even more, totaling a tasty 501 euros due to Easyjet's nearest air destination being Berlin. Click to continue reading...

The first quarter of the season is over, and there are four teams ahead of Bayern -- something that last happened five years ago.
Munich have a history of making stunning and often very lucky comebacks. But every once in a while, such as in 2003-4, they don't get the job done. Bremen won the league that year, and Stuttgart accomplished the same feat in 2006-7. Click to continue reading...

Things seem to be listing slightly aboard the good ship Jogi. The Germany coach appears to be dealing with a period of unprecedented mutiny within Die Mannschaft; something that is as rare as a Thomas Hitzlsperger goal.
We had the first taste of the discontent at Euro 2008 when Michael Ballack and the oh-so-smug Oliver Bierhoff almost came to blows after the whistle blew on that fateful final day. Click to continue reading...

Looks like Kevin Kuranyi is gone for good, and rumors of Torsten Frings packing his things are also growing. But who will be next? Soccer experts try to look into their crystal balls to read Jogi Loew's mind, but they'd have a much easier time if they looked at the breakfast table instead.
Players on the German national team are suffering from the Nutella Curse. Click to continue reading...

No one would have predicted that eight weeks into the season the two top title candidates, Bayern Munich and Werder Bremen, would be mucking about in the bottom half of the table. But there they are, sandwiched between the likes of Cologne and Karlsruhe.
To appreciate how worried the bosses are at Bayern, just look at the players coach Juergen Klinsmann picked for last weekend's away match against Karlsruhe: a back four, two defensive midfielders, and -- nominally at least -- only four offensively oriented players. Click to continue reading...

After Nuremberg tossed him out in what could have been their hour of greatest need shortly before being relegated to the second division last season, Borrusia Moenchengladbach convinced Hans Meyer to take over until 2010.
Meyer will replace Dutchman Jos Luhukay. Luhukay had the team roster ripped from his hands earlier this month after the club grabbed just three points from their opening six matches. Click to continue reading...

The Bundesliga 18 teams' fan liaisons have had nearly two months (much longer than I originally anticipated) to fill me in on why I should support their team. Sadly, the results weren't quite as passionate as I'd been hoping for.
Testimonials came in from (in order received): Bielefeld, Wolfsburg, Hanover, Berlin and Schalke. Click to continue reading...

On the surface, the news on Thursday that Germany's current number 1, Robert Enke, had broken his hand ahead of this weekend's match against Russia was a shock. But it may turn out to be a blessing in disguise.
Leverkusen's René Adler will likely replace Enke between the posts, and don't be surprised if the change becomes permanent. Click to continue reading...

After finishing a review of the scathing remarks the rest of the German press had for Juergen Klinsmann after his first 100 days at the head of Bayern Munich, here's my appraisal.

There are a few reasons to expect neither Klinsi nor Bayern's management to adhere to the soccer's traditional logic of kill the coach as soon as the team falters. Click to continue reading...

Croatian strikers Ivica Olic and Mladen Petric struck as visiting SV Hamburg defeated Energie Cottbus 2-1 to open up a three-point lead at the top of the German Bundesliga on Sunday.
Petric headed a last-minute winner for Hamburg to give Martin Jol's side - who went into the weekend programme a point ahead - a fifth league victory and 16 points after seven games. Click to continue reading...

Ten-man VfL Wolfsburg missed their chance to go third in the Bundesliga with a 2-1 defeat at Karlsruhe on Sunday after defending champions Bayern Munich suffered their second consecutive league defeat.
Having smashed minnows Oberneuland 7-0 in the German Cup in midweek, Wolfsburg were brought crashing down to earth when Karlsruhe midfielder Massimilian Porcello curled in a free-kick on 51 minutes to take a 1-0 lead. Click to continue reading...

Bayern Munich coach Juergen Klinsmann is preparing for Tuesday's Champions League clash against Olympique Lyon with the pressure already mounting on the former German national team boss.
The German champions are off to their worst start to a Bundesliga season in 31 years, winning just two of their opening six games as Klinsmann's side followed up a 5-2 home hammering by Werder Bremen with a shock 1-0 loss at Hanover at the weekend. Click to continue reading...

Werder Bremen struggled to a 2-1 victory over third-division side Erzgebirge Aue Tuesday in the German Cup while Cologne and Eintracht Frankfurt lost to teams from lower leagues.
With the memory of Saturday's stunning 5-2 win at champions Bayern Munich still fresh in their minds, Bremen went into their second- round clash full of confidence but found themselves a goal down after just seven minutes when Fabian Mueller put the home side ahead with a shot from outside the area. Click to continue reading...