BERLIN (AP) Even after World Cup success, life isn't easy for Americans playing in Germany's top soccer division.

As the Bundesliga kicks off its 40th season, the number of Americans in the league is up from two last year to five this year. Yet only Tony Sanneh and Steve Cherundolo have a chance to start.

Nonetheless, Sanneh believes the way the U.S. reached the World Cup quarterfinals and narrowly lost to Germany gave Germans an understanding of how good the Americans can be when they are not struggling in a new country.

"The attitude has changed," Sanneh said. "They do give us credit. When you're in your own environment, they see you at your best.

"I think they realize now it's not that easy going to another country - there's only a handful of Germans playing outside Germany."

Sanneh, who plays for FC Nuremberg and Steve Cherundolo, who plays for Hannover 96, are the American standouts.

The other three players on German teams are Hannover's Casey Conor, Werder Bremen's Philip Sayer and Bayer Leverkusen's Frankie Hejduk.

Cherundolo said nothing has changed in Hannover since the World Cup because he earned his teammates' respect long ago.

"But I imagine it's helped," Cherundolo said. "I would bet Germans look at us a little differently now."

There would be a sixth American in the Bundesliga if Landon Donovan returned to Leverkusen. Leverkusen signed Donovan in 1999, then loaned him out to the San Jose Earthquakes.

Donovan and Major League Soccer hope he can help build the sport in the United States, but Leverkusen hasn't written him off yet.

Sanneh and Cherundolo agree that neither Leverkusen or defending champion Borussia Dortmund are the favorites to win this year's Bundesliga title. Those honors go to Bayern Munich, which signed Michael Ballack and Ze Roberto from Leverkusen.

Though Sanneh does not play for a favored team, he has spent time with a top team. After several years with Hertha Berlin, one of the Bundesliga's top clubs, he moved to Nuremberg last year.

His coach at Hertha Berlin loved his skills, but accused him of lacking the tactics to play in the German system. Sanneh believes the real problem for Americans playing in Germany is adjusting to the mentality.

"We have a different style in America," Sanneh said. "If you lose, we're taught to smile and get the next one. Here that looks bad. They're much more serious - they want to see your emotions."

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