UEFA Champions League: Schalke 04 Makes Germany Proud

A finalist in 2010, and now a semifinalist in 2011. German football is seemingly on the rise.

Considering that the team in this year's semifinals is not called Bayern, the Bundesliga is surely on the rise in Europe. Bayern has endured a typically poor post World Cup season. Their short-comings are obvious and they will be addressed in the summer. However, if you are a Bundesliga fan, you will definitely know about Schalke's problems throughout the season.

Despite their poor placing in the league, Schalke fans have had plenty to cheer about. Their run to the final of the Pokal has been brilliant as has been their run in the Champions League. Schalke is one of the most debt-ridden clubs in a financially astute Bundesliga.

The fans and the players alike has had to deal with disagreements between Felix Magath and the board. Clemens Tonnies has been on the verge of sacking Magath throughout the season, but did at just the right time. He decided to let Ralf Rangnick come in and play positive football.

Schalke achieved at one attempt what Bayern couldn't. They did away with Inter Milan, a club called "the Bayern killers" in the German press. Their campaign has been almost flawless. Schalke opened with a 1-0 loss against Lyon. Benedikt Howedes, the youngster who scored the winner last night was sent off against Lyon.

Since then, Schalke has only looked upwards. They won their group comfortably at the end, disposing of Benfica, Hapoel, as well as Lyon on the way. They beat a very strong Valencia in the Round of 16 and absolutely crushed Inter in the quarter-finals.

Schalke is a well balanced side. Their defence hasn't exactly been air-tight in the Bundesliga. However, on the continent, the defence has looked assured. They have the best keeper in the world between the posts: Manuel Neuer.

Neuer exudes calmness and rarely gets frustrated. He is a commanding figure in his penalty area. Howedes has been a constant figure in the Schalke defence for the past two seasons. He is strong and he is willing to take on strikers. Christoph Metzelder hasn't had his best season but has the experience needed to assist a youngster such as Howedes.

Hans Sarpei is an experienced head purchased from Leverkusen. On the opposite flank is Atsuto Uchida, the young Japanese starlet who has really given his country something to cheer about. Lukas Schmitz can also be called on when required. Kyriakos Papadopoulos, the Greek defender, can sit in midfield and give the back four more cover. Joel Matip or Peer Kluge can sit just beside him. Joel Matip scored in his debut against Bayern last season.

As far as creativity in midfield is required, Alexander Baumjohann, the fiery and fast Peruvian Jefferson Farfan, the Spaniard Jose Jurado and the audacious German Julian Draxler can be called on. It's a shame that Jermaine Jones and Ivan Rakitic left Schalke in January.

The striking department obviously has the legend Raul in it. Edu is the one currently playing beside him. Klaas Jan Huntelaar will perhaps take over when he returns from injury. Mario Gavranovic is unfortunately out for the rest of the season.

Julian Draxler announced his arrival on the big stage, when he netted the winner in extra time in the German Cup quarterfinals against Nuremberg. Raul disposed of a toothless Bayern in the semi-finals. He scored the only goal in a 1-0 win. The Schalke defence did not allow Bayern any breathing room in that match.

Schalke's fairytale might end in the semi-finals. However, they will play Manchester United, a team that previously under-rated German clubs were able to do away with. The most recent memory is of-course provided by FC Bayern Muenchen last season, who in truth, were underdogs last season.

A look further back takes us to 2002, when Leverkusen also disposed of them on away goals. Schalke might even take a page out of their neighbours's book, Borussia Dortmund, who disposed of United, 2-0, in 1997.

This Manchester United team definitely has enough in them to easily do away with Schalke, as did last year's side against Bayern. Schalke showed over the two legs against Inter that they can play lovely one-touch football. They are stable and don't really have any huge weaknesses. They made Germany proud by disposing of Inter and all the fans of each German club will hope that they progress further in the competition.

Schalke's run to the semis shows that German football is perhaps on the right path as far as European football is concerned. From 2003 to 2009, Germany was in the wilderness as far as the Champions League is concerned. With Bayern, and subsequently Schalke's runs, German clubs are showing that they have what it takes to go far in Europe.

One thing is for sure though. Even if United rout Schalke, this huge victory over the holders of the Champions League will be remembered for ages, not only in Gelsenkirchen, but all over Germany.

Everybody will be holding their breaths to see whether this fairy tale will continue.