A German football great will definitely win the most important trophy in club football as a farewell. For Marco Reus it could be the late crowning of his career, for Toni Kroos another title.
Curtain up and stage clear for one last big performance. For Toni Kroos and Marco Reus, there could be no more pompous setting for their final performance in the snow-white and black-and-yellow jerseys than the Champions League final in the cathedral of European football: London’s Wembley Stadium.
Borussia Dortmund will challenge the biggest club in the world, Real Madrid, on Saturday (9 p.m./ZDF and DAZN). Almost 90,000 spectators in Wembley and around half a billion people around the world will watch on TV as club legends Kroos (Real) and Reus (BVB) play their last game for their clubs.
“To be honest, I’m not thinking about myself very much. It’s the most important game of all for the whole team and we want to play it successfully,” said Kroos before the final, which will be followed by another highlight before his great career finally ends. “Of course it’s my last game for Real Madrid, but after that comes the European Championship with Germany,” said the 34-year-old 2014 world champion.
Last Saturday, Kroos had already experienced a farewell like no other Real player before him at his last home appearance at the Bernabéu Stadium. “Gracias Leyenda” (Thank you, legend) was written on a huge poster, his teammates threw it up in the air after the 0:0 draw against Betis Sevilla and the fans paid homage to him throughout. Kroos’ tears flowed. “It was great, I enjoyed it and of course I’m consciously trying to put it aside for now because the sporting aspect has to take priority now,” Kroos said on DAZN.
“History” Kroos: Incredible 22 titles in ten years
The midfield maestro won an incredible 22 titles in ten years with the Royals. As the favorite on Saturday with Real, the probability of the 23rd is not small. It would be his fifth Champions League title with the Royals since his move from FC Bayern in 2014. “I hope he can win the Champions League again,” said Real coach Carlo Ancelotti. “But Toni Kroos’ career doesn’t need another Champions League win to go down in history. He is already history.”
Meanwhile, the Greifswald native has already been put forward for the Ballon d’or – the award for the best player in the world – by Ancelotti and others. If Kroos lifts the trophy into the London night sky for the sixth time on Saturday (he won the Champions League with Bayern in 2013), his chances of winning would increase. “I’ll sign straight away that we’ll win the Champions League final, then I’ll win the Copa América and then the Ballon d’Or will go to Toni Kroos,” said teammate Vinicius Junior, who is generally considered the favorite for the individual award.
In view of the impressive trophy collection, BVB sports director Sebastian Kehl made a somewhat less serious appeal to Kroos. “Toni has won enough titles. Perhaps he can do without this one,” said Kehl. “I would wish that for Marco.”
Unfinished Reus
As perfect as Kroos’ career appears, Reus’s seems unfinished. One of the best German footballers of modern times – a legend at both his previous club Borussia Mönchengladbach and his hometown club Borussia Dortmund – was injured far too often to celebrate more titles than the two cup victories with BVB. The attacking player missed the 2014 World Cup and the title because of an injury in the last test match. In addition, Dortmund lost the finals of the Champions League in 2013 (FC Bayern), the DFB Cup in 2014 (FC Bayern), 2015 (Wolfsburg) and 2016 (FC Bayern), as well as the championship, which was lost on the last matchday last summer.
“I don’t think he’s finished yet,” said BVB coach Edin Terzic about his former captain, who, unlike Kroos, wants to continue his career abroad after his contract expires in a month. Reus had his emotional farewell four weeks ago in the 5:1 win against FC Augsburg, when he excelled just a few days after announcing his departure. His final game will now take place on Saturday. “I wish him an emotional last day. That we win this title for him too,” said Kehl. “It would be a cool story if he scored the winning goal at the end.”
Reus no longer plays the central role like Kroos, who apparently says ‘adiós’ at the peak of his abilities. But it is clear that Reus, who turns 35 on Friday, will be used during the game. “I need Marco on Saturday. I need his qualities,” said Terzic.
No decision yet on Hummels and Modric
The future of two other international stars has not yet been decided. For Reus’ teammate Mats Hummels (35), the appearance at Wembley could also be the last in the BVB jersey. If his expiring contract is not extended, Hummels will also probably move “to a nearby European country,” the 2014 world champion recently indicated in an interview with “Sport Bild.”
The situation is also not yet clear for 38-year-old Real star Luka Modric, at least officially. “I can’t say anything about it yet,” the Croatian said recently, but hinted that he would stay for another year. “I want a farewell like Toni Kroos.” He meant the Benabéu and not Wembley.
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
