Germany

Alphonso Davies signed off on his Vancouver Whitecaps career with a sensational solo strike in the club’s match against the Portland Timbers on Sunday. Vancouver had already been eliminated from playoff contention and used the season finale at BC Place as a send-off to the 17-year-old, who joined the club’s residency program in 2015.

Hertha Berlin battled to a positive 2-2 draw with Borussia Dortmund despite two goals from 18-year-old wunderkind Jadon Sancho on Saturday. But what stood out most from the Dortmund vs Hertha highlights were events taking place off the pitch, in the stands.

The scenes at Signal-Iduna Park, home of some of the most intimidating fans in the world, dissolved into madness as police and Hertha fans clashed in the stands. 

Christian Pulisic started on the right wing and put in a strong performance in Borussia Dortmund’s impressive 4-0 rout of Atlético Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday. On Saturday, he started on the bench and watched as two more Jadon Sancho goals were scored by the right winger, putting added pressure on the young American, who could see his playing time increasingly limited.

A fascinating tactical battle between Lucien Favre’s Bundesliga-leading Dortmund and Diego Simeone’s Atletico (currently averaging 0.55 goals conceded per game in LaLiga) was bossed by the home side at the Westfalenstadion on Wednesday, BVB putting four past Europe’s misers while limiting the visitors to only two shots on frame.

Achraf Hakimi registered a hat-trick of assists while the moves were finished by Axel Witsel, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Guerreiro (x2). Marco Reus wasn’t on the scoresheet, but his deployment in the false nine role murdered Atletico’s shape. 

Weston McKennie is expected to become a major part of the midfield fulcrum for the USMNT over the next decade. But the Texan, who turned 20 in August, has shown off his versatility with Schalke this season.

McKennie started up top as one of two forwards for Schalke on Saturday against Werder Bremen, the sixth different position he’s played in six Bundesliga appearances this season. 

Christian Pulisic set all sorts of records for an American in the Bundesliga playing with Borussia Dortmund. With all due respect to Pulisic’s teammate Jadon Sancho, these Reiss Nelson goals show the 18-year-old is the English version of Christian Pulisic, the most enticing young Englishman playing in Germany right now. 

Josh Sargent’s time with the Werder Bremen U-23 team is all but ending. The 18-year-old is way past that, Werder Bremen coach Florian Kohfeldt said this week.

As Sargent returned from the international break, during which he scored, Kohfeldt told reporters the American teenager is in his plans for the senior team.

Kylian Mbappé is really fast. Like, super fast.

For much of the France vs. Germany UEFA Nations League match on Tuesday, he was Les Bleus’ only offensive threat with his blinding speed. Then Antoine Griezmann showed up in the second half to propel France to a 2-1 win over Germany, putting the 2014 World Cup champions on the brink of being relegated. 

When Germany won the 2014 World Cup, there was little doubt Manuel Neuer was the best goalkeeper in the world. His impressive shot-stopping ability and unparalleled foot skills made him a unique weapon for Die Mannschaft. 

These days, however, Neuer looks to be a shadow of his former self.

Following a long injury layoff, Neuer couldn’t do anything to help Germany during the country’s worst-ever World Cup showing over the summer in Russia.