Bundesliga teams booming in Europe

"We are 14th in the league. I think that says everything you need to know about the quality of the Bundesliga," said Borussia Dortmund coach Jürgen Klopp when asked for his thoughts on Germany yet again having all four of their teams in the Champions League knockout stages. While Klopp's comment is laced with his usual jovial tone and nicely distracts from Dortmund's domestic failings, his point retains validity. German clubs have really come to play on the big stage again this season.

Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and Schalke 04 are all in the pot for the knockout draw of the Champions League - decided on Monday, December 15 at 10:30 UTC. In addition, both Wolfsburg and Borussia Mönchengladbach have also progressed from the group stages of the Europa League, the latter even finished undefeated victors of their group. Six from six (could have been seven had Mainz not lost in qualifying) - no other nation in football can say that.

By no means have the Bundesliga's representatives been perfect in Europe - all four teams have tasted defeat. While Bayern and Dortmund won their groups - the former with five wins to their name and the latter on goal difference - Leverkusen went through in second having spurned numerous chances to top the group. Schalke, perhaps Germany's weakest representative in Europe, sneaked through with a win on the final matchday.

Great European record

Therein lies the key: progression. In a competition where the knockout stages are very much the peak of the sport, qualification is not enough for those sides looking to be considered in football's leading bracket.

Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are certainly a part of that. Their Champions League campaigns have been fairly superior affairs so far, and even Leverkusen and Schalke weren't hindered by their Jekyll and Hyde act. There's no denying there's still a gap between Germany's top two teams and the rest, but the progression of all four sides for the second consecutive season is evidence that the gap is closing, at least in a sporting sense.

That is very much the case for the league as well. The Bundesliga takes pride in its fan-orientated regulations and opposition to quick financial fixes. Out of that, has come an ever-producing talent pool and club and country have been reaping the rewards since. Germany might not be buying the world's most exciting talent, but more often than not they're creating them.

England's Premier League is often hailed as the world's best league. Their representatives were let down by Liverpool who failed to make the knockouts. Arsenal were hit and miss but made it through in second - behind Borussia Dortmund, while Manchester City needed some last minute heroics in Rome to escape an otherwise forgettable group-stage. Jose Mourinho's Chelsea were perhaps the only English side to truly look superior as they confidently topped their group - ahead of Schalke.

Spain's La Liga boasts the two best players in the world, and have enjoyed a better European year than the Premier League. Athletic Bilbao were the only side not to progress in the Champions League, but both of Spain's Europa League sides - Villarreal and defending champions Sevilla - made the knockouts. Italy's success was a Europa League tale, perhaps telling in itself. All four of their clubs progressed - Inter Milan, Napoli, Fiorentina and Torino - but only Juventus managed the same in the Champions League.

Bundesliga ready to shine

Just like the lifting of the World Cup this summer, Germany has been building towards an era of footballing prosperity. Two consecutive years of four sides in the final stages of football's top competition is a real sign of how far German football has come from the depths of the post 2002 hangover. In fact, were it not for SC Freiburg's third-placed finish in last year's Europa League, all of the country's teams competing internationally in the last two years would have made the knockout rounds.

While the triumph in Brazil is the pinnacle of the country's spate of recent success, the list appears endless. On top of the men's national and international success, Germany women's team claimed their eighth European Championship in 2013. Wolfsburg's women's team have won back-to-back Champions League titles, and are on course for a third.

The upturn in success and resulting interest in German football has been timed rather well. From next season, the American market joins the fun with US broadcaster FOX to show more Bundesliga football.

Planned to perfection or not, Germany's development is a blueprint to follow. Clubs with unique fan bases, smart business and marketing strategies, and sustainable player and coaching development should be the future. Germany's success in European football over the last two years shows us that actually, this unique approach is possible right now.