Soccer German Bundesliga

Before reading any further, it's probably best to watch the video embedded above. Let's call that the good the Michael Bradley.

Fans of the U.S. National Team have seen plenty of the good Bradley, the player that's a box-to-box midfield force who's chipped in with six goals in 34 international appearances, while simultaneously establishing himself at SC Hereenveen in the Dutch Eredivisie and currently at Borussia Mönchengladbach in the German Bundesliga.

For those chafing at the thought of New Jersey native Giuseppe Rossi suiting up for the Italians in Monday's Confederations Cup opener against the U.S. in Pretoria, news this morning out of Germany should offer some ironic relief.

Schalke 04 midfielder Jermaine Jones, a 27-year-old from Frankfurt who happens to be the son of an American soldier, has decided to take advantage of a new FIFA rule and declare his intention to play for the U.S. national team. Last week, the global governing body decided that players who hadn't represented their country in official competition could switch affiliation at any point, rather then only before their 21st birthday. Apparently snubbed by German national team coach Joachim Low, Jones has taken advantage.

In general European soccer leagues tend to be dominated be a few "super clubs" and these teams trade the title back-and-forth each year. This, however, isn't the case in the German Bundesliga, where Saturday one of the league's minnows -- VfL Wolfsburg -- won the league for the first time in its 64-year history, edging out powerhouse Bayern Munich by two points.

Wolfsburg -- which is owned by car manufacturer Volkswagon -- had never won a major honor until Saturday, when it clinched the league by defeating Werder Bremen 5-1. The club's win gives the Bundesliga five different champions in this decade.

The final staging of the UEFA Cup turned out to be a very engaging affair won by Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 over Germany's Werder Bremen in extra time Wednesday in Istanbul. Next year Europe's second-tier competition will be re-branded as the Europa League.

All three goals were scored by Brazilian players, including the winner sin the 97th minute by Shakhtar's Jadson. The game was full of incident, with Shakhtar especially aggressive throughout, probing the right side of the Bremen defense through captain Croatian Darijo Srna -- who's loss cross set up the winner.

The nine games played on the penultimate weekend of the Bundesliga season featured average crowds of more than 50,000. I was fortunate enough to attend the one with the largest (about 74,000), a draw between Hertha Berlin and Schalke 04 at the historic Olympiastadion that ended the capital club's quest for its first championship in nearly 80 years.

The atmosphere was electric both inside and outside the stadium, the supporters colorful and loud. The scene at HSH Nordbank Arena in Hamburg last Wednesday, where I was among the 48,000 who saw Hamburger SV defeat VfL Bochum, 3-1, was similar. It was enjoyable, but it was hard not to feel a bit wistful at the same time, knowing that the game in the U.S. may never achieve that kind of prominence.

After weeks of speculation, the guillotine finally fell on Bayern Munich coach Jurgen Klinsmann when the German giants fired him Monday. In the last few weeks Bayern has crashed out of the Champions League after being bludgeoned by Barcelona and this weekend fell to third place in the Bundesliga.

The writing was on the wall for Klinsmann for a couple weeks, so this move is hardly a surprise, even if he had signed a two-year contract before the season. Will the move spark Bayern to win the title with under five games to go? Hard to say. If anything Bayern needs to stratch and claw to finish in the top three to remain in the Champions League for next year.

Ask any 10 fans of the U.S. National Team about Landon Donovan are you're likely to get 10 different responses. No other player can at the same time draw as much praise or heat as the Yanks all-time leading scorer. Yet if you troll through most message boards, Donovan is a target or scorn and disdain, mostly because he flamed out at two stints with Bayer Leverkausen this decade.

This might go against the popular Internet grain, but I for one feel somewhat sorry for Donovan after it was announced Thursday that he won't be kept on at Bayern Munich, instead return to the Los Angeles Galaxy in time for the 2009 MLS season. Yes, Donovan is an easy target but this time it probably wasn't his fault. He gave it a go with one of the world's über-clubs, and they simply didn't need his services.

All told, Landon Donovan hasn't spent all that much time of his life in Germany even if you include his recent stint at Bayern Munich. One German phrase he certainly knows without consulting the Lonely Planet phrase book is auf Wiedersehen. (Heck, anyone that watches 'Project Runway' probably knows that one.)

Tuesday Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told a Munich newspaper that it's unlikely the club will extend the U.S. captain's contract beyond this month when his loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy expires. Donovan has played in four games since the Bundesliga resumed after its winter break, but has yet to start.

Well, that didn't take long. In his second game -- this time a friendly against Al Wheba in Abu Dhabi -- Landon Donovan scored for Bayern Munich. No need to rehash the whole Donovan story, but it's certainly a boost to his spirits to get a goal to his name at one of the world's best teams.

According to the match report, and a couple emails, it was a pretty nice goal where Donovan chested down a ball, turned and fired into the net. Unlike the previous game, Donovan only played 45 minutes and his goal came in stoppage time. No to jump overboard, but it's one thing to score against Al Wheba and another to do it against, say, Hamburg or Schalke. (Granted, the Bundesliga isn't exactly known for its defense as of late.)

Though he's still listed as returning to the Los Angles Galaxy in March, something says Donovan might extend his stay in Bavaria if he continues to impress. Bayern coach Jürgen Klinsmann has all but said Donovan is auditioning to replace want-away forward Lucas Podolski who's been heavily linked to a return to his previous club, Cologne. Though it might sound blasphemous, Donovan does have a somewhat similar skill set as Podolski.

Bottom line, with every performance like this -- especially with goals -- the window for Donovan to return to MLS closes ever so slightly. (Video of the goal after the jump.)

The once-and-future poster boy for U.S. soccer Landon Donovan saw his latest foray into the wild and woolly world of European soccer Sunday in of all places Abu Dhabi. Donovan played all 90 minutes in a Bayern Munich -- his club for the time being -- 3-2 victory over Al Jeezera Sports Club in a friendly while the Bundesliga is on its winter break. Donovan played forward alongside Luca Toni and Miroslav Klose for a half each.

Whereas Donovan's Galaxy teammate David Beckham's loan with AC Milan is a little more clear cut -- the English midfielders team of advisors affrm he'll be back for the start of MLS season in March -- the U.S. captain's stay with the German giants is a little murkier.

For instance, Bayern doesn't resume competitive play until a Jan. 27 DFB-Pokal match with Stuttgart. The Bundesliga restarts three days later. Bayern also plays the first leg of it's Round of 16 Champions League with Sporting Lisbon on Feb. 25. Would Bayern boss Jürgen Klinsmann risk playing Donovan in such an important match? So when you boil it down Donovan is doing little more than training with Bayern.