More Than The Money

None of Germany's three sides are likely to qualify for the knock-out phase of the Champions League, while Nuremberg were beaten 2-0 in the UEFA Cup on Thursday night by Everton and Bayern Munich drew 2-2 at home with Bolton.

But while top teams in other European countries, like England for example, have an infinitely larger budget than their Bundesliga counterparts, Löw insists there is much more than just finances behind the issue.

"The money is only part of the reason, I see no reason to believe Norway's Rosenborg are any richer that the German clubs," Löw told German tabloid Bild.

Bundesliga teams should focus on development

"But the Norwegians are a good example of a system where they develop players, while Arsenal and Manchester United focus on continuity and have had the same coaches for years," Löw added.

"I can only really talk in terms of selection for the German team and for the last two years I have insisted on attack, technique and developing strong characters. And those characteristics are something we are developing in Germany."

After four rounds of Champions League group games, Schalke and Werder Bremen must win their last two games to have any chance of making the last 16, while Stuttgart are out after four defeats

Germany's elite three sides have suffered nine defeats in twelve matches.

Germany's strongest side Bayern Munich are top of their UEFA Cup group with a win and a draw, but Bayern's chairman of the board Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says German clubs need to attract investors.

He also suggested Bundesliga clubs should be given their share of TV money depending on their results, rather than the current system where all 18 clubs are given an equal share.

"It is obvious that Stuttgart, for example, give more to the Bundesliga than say Energie Cottbus or VfL Bochum," he told German newspaper Stuttgarter Zeitung.