It’s been very easy this week to get caught up in the hysteria of a week that has seen German football go from being the football equivalent of Indy Car, to joining the ranks of Formula 1.

Before this season it’s safe to say that German football was, in the grand scale of European football, sat in third place behind Spanish and English football with many still believing that Serie A was still the third ranked League in the UEFA spectrum.

Germany was considered a one team league by many, with Bayern Munich being the side everybody “knew” about, while Dortmund, despite their two Bundesliga titles in two years was the team who ‘can’t attract big enough players to be considered a potential Champions League contender’.  That, in part, was true, with Bayern willing to splash the cash on players such as Mario Mandzukic and Javi Martinez, while Dortmund were a side who had lost Shinji Kagawa to Manchester United and had brought in a youngster called Marco Reus who the rest of Europe had only begun to learn about with his fleeting appearances for Germany in Euro 2012 last summer. 

Dortmund, though, didn’t want to spend big having almost gone bankrupt in 2005. The clubs owners and fans knew how close they’d come to losing their beloved club (including taking a loan from Bayern Munich in 2003) and the model that had brought them to prominence in the Bundesliga for the last two years was deemed suitable to mount a European challenge this year. They were right.

With Bayern’s dominance this season on all fronts and Dortmund flexing their muscles in the Champions League, it’s been easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of the two clubs achievements, especially their dominance over Spain’s best this week.

But there are questions that need to be answered.

First, does anyone remember Malaga?  The Spanish side aren’t held in as high regard as La Liga’s top two clubs, but of all the Spain v Germany ties in the Champions League this year, they have come closest to knocking a side out.  If Dortmund hadn’t stumbled and bumbled their way past Malaga, would we be talking about a German dominance of European football, or just the monstrous Munich.

Secondly, what happens when Gotze and others leave Dortmund? Kagawa left for Manchester United and may regret it if his former club lift Europe’s ultimate prize this season, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.  Gotze has gone, lured by the panache of Pep [Guardiola] and Lewandoski is apparently off to Manchester United, Bayern Munich or possibly Paris Saint Germain. If this dram team gets broken up, then how will Dortmund replace these players, and who else will follow them out the front door. Reus in 12-months, Matt Hummels, Kuba Blaslksfdhajh-ski? Dortmund’s time could be now and only now. With Andre Schurrle reportedly leaving Bayern Leverkusen along with Stefan Kiebling, and Luis Holtby having already left Schalke, some of Germany’s other top stars could be on their way out of the league. Let the feeding frenzy of the Europe’s big money spenders begin.

Thirdly, Germany haven’t overtaken Spain in international football……..yet.

4-0 up against Sweden at halftime in a World Cup qualifier and Germany were cruising. 45 minutes later, Zlatan Ibrahimovich and co were on level terms while Joachim Low was sat scratching his head wondering what just happened?

Germany on the international stage have had an uncanny ability of fumbling the football at the 10-yard-line. Flopping to Italy last summer, dropping out to Holland at World Cup 2010 and generally just being unable to topple Spain despite being tipped for success in almost every tournament they enter means one thing. Germany’s club sides are rolling at the moment, but World Cup 2014 will be the first chance to truly turn football’s tide in their favour.

Finally, isn’t there still 90 minutes of football left? If any two sides can turn around a 3 or 4 goal deficit Barca and Real Madrid can.  An away goal in Dortmund and Barca’s thumping of Milan in the Camp Nou still fresh in our memory, we all need to wait at least a week before we announce German football as the ultimate club league. It’s never over till it’s over.

Biting Back

Liverpool Football Club have shot themselves in the foot once again with Luis Suarez.  The human Rottweiler was given a 10-game ban on Tuesday for gnawing on Branislav Ivanovic and, rather then keeping their mouth shut, Liverpool have described the ban as excessive. 

Lets remind ourselves that Eric Cantona was given a 9-month ban for a kick to a fan, while Mike Tyson has been was away form boxing for a year. All things considered, Saurez’s 10-game ban was a lucky escape for the habitual breaker of social rules, constructs and order. 

The police could still get involved with the incident while children under the age of 6 are being told off for doing exactly what a man 20-years older then them is doing. Liverpool should be happy it’s just 10 games, meanwhile the FA might now be forced to answer the question ‘so is biting someone worse then being racist on a football field?’

Milan Needs Its Men Back

Mario Balotelli has been gone from the AC Milan lineup for the last two fixtures against Napoli and Juventus and with their hitman missing, Milan look a little lost and confused upfront. Since his arrival Mario has been a demon in front of goal, and the rest of the flock appears to have lost their way without their attacking shepherd.

Meanwhile, across the city, Andrea Stramaccioni is missing all his men. The injury crisis continues for Inter Milan and Andrea’s time is, according to some, ticking away. The potential short term gain of bringing in a new manager to deal with a team that’s merely suffering from an injury crisis, (Zdenic Zemen anyone?) the long term loss will be losing a manager who might actually be able to mold Inter into a Dortmund type side. Young, cheap and building for the future, Inter, in a few seasons could be reaching for the stars and it’s unlikely they’ll be left floundering like a more fashion conscious Aston Villa.