At Wembley, German soccer history's epic journey comes full circle.
This weekend, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund will meet at Wembley Stadium for the Henkelpot, the Champions League final. This match marks the conclusion of notable German football stories. Emotions will run high, possibly on both sides.
The last encounter of Toni Kroos, Mats Hummels, and Marco Reus at Wembley recalls ten years ago, when Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund fought in the Champions League final. Kroos was injured for Bayern, while Reus and Hummels shined for Dortmund. Bayern Munich won and celebrated, while Dortmund wept. Their victories and defeats, as well as triumph and tragedy, remain an unforgettable part of history.
Ten years ago, the German national team was formed, with Kroos and Hummels being at the forefront. Reus, who was injured in the final match, only had an unforgettable moment, when he assisted Kroos's free kick goal against Sweden. A few days later, Hummels missed a critical opportunity against South Korea, which led to an unfavorable tournament result. That was followed by a series of bad performances. Now back at Wembley, this page in history comes to a close.
We don't know if Mats Hummels will discuss his future at BVB. For Toni Kroos, it's his last game as a club footballer. For Marco Reus, it's his last game at Dortmund. But what about Hummels? It's unclear what his next move is. He mentioned three options this week: Renewing his contract at Dortmund, moving to another European country, or retiring. While the last choice appears "unlikely," according to Hummels, a decision hasn't been made yet.
The Henkelpot is at stake on Saturday. This is the largest European club football title. Eleven years ago, Dortmund suffered a disappointing defeat against Bayern Munich. Now, they've returned to the biggest stage. Why did this happen? That's the season's most intriguing question. Dortmund faced several challenges in the Bundesliga, with unexpected losses to Darmstadt, Heidenheim, and Bochum. In the Champions League, they held off multiple attacks from strong rivals. They won with a combination of skill and luck, particularly against Paris St. Germain. Hummels, who rediscovered his heroic persistence and played exceptionally well, was instrumental in this success. His future with the German national team is undecided, but a stay at Dortmund seems increasingly unlikely after a controversial attack on coach Edin Terzic in "Sport Bild." However, that option is still possible.
For nearly two decades, Borussia Dortmund was a force in the Bundesliga with weak limbs. But when the iconic hymn by Tony Britten sounded, they discarded their crutches, turning the field into a dance floor, as if their wounds from the weekend events never existed. They prevailed against the "death group," defeated Super-PSV-Eindhoven, overcame Dirty Atletico, and dismissed luxurious PSG. Finally, it was Hummels who secured the win, scoring the 1:0 in the semi-final and, alongside Niclas Füllkrug's 1:0 from the first duel, led to a massive debt that the well-funded Qatari investors could not pay off.
After the final whistle blew at Prinzenpark, Dortmund players ran towards their fans, creating iconic images. One of these iconic moments featured Marco Reus. The fleeting Black and Yellow stood on the fence, wearing the megaphone, and set the tone for the party. Earlier, it had been announced that the offensive player would not renew his contract and would depart from Dortmund in this summer. His destination remains unclear. Despite being considered a fading star, his talent and potential remain unchanged.
In 2013, Dortmund experienced a series of successful seasons, but their legs were weak. Nevertheless, they won in the Champions League finals with the iconic hymn from Tony Britten, as if to forget their pains from the weekend battles. They grabbed the opportunity. Now, they're here again. All three, Kroos, Reus, and Hummels, one last time at Wembley. We'll see the end of these great German football stories, and emotions will no doubt flow.
Since the 2012/13 season, Real Madrid has been called the "rock'n'roll express", with able players like Reus, Hummels, Neven Subotic, Ilkay Gündoğan, Mario Götze, and Robert Lewandowski making their mark in the European soccer scene. Reus, with his impressive talent, was expected to be the next world star and potentially unsettle the fierce rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. He surely had it in him, as he managed to get on the cover of EA Sports' FIFA in 2017, making him the only German player featured. But fate had other plans; injuries plagued Reus and took away his prime years.
He wasn't that pop star with the perfect haircut, an icon anymore, but more like a sad hero. As a teammate turned captain, his face represented the disappointment of missed potential, not just for the club, but for himself. Despite being a genius footballer, Reus failed as a leader when the club faced mental debates. When Parris was beaten, there was a commemorative choreography for him at "South", "11, thank you Marco", and Reus got emotional in the stands, tears flowing beneath his face paint. This was his retirement.
With Reus and Hummels, memories of Wembley reemerge, stirring up emotions. Although the pain lingered, the lost time couldn't be turned back. A victory over Paris brought back Reus' best form, scoring and setting up a goal. It was a brief reminder of his talent, but an unforgettable moment.
In the Champions League final in 2023, Bayern and Real Madrid clashed. While the match ended with Real Madrid's success, some dubbed referee Szymon Marciniak the game-changer - he discarded a potential equalizer for offside in the 120th minute. Bayern's frustration was apparent, but Real Madrid commanded composure, leaving their competitors in awe. They had an aura of an invincible, unkillable champion.
Joselu of Real scored twice in the final minutes, prompting a victory for the team in an otherwise troubled match. Lost opportunities, it turned out, were their signature. They always found ways to retrieve game-changing chances. Former Bundesliga striker Joselu secured the victory while Kroos was in the midst of a breakthrough performance. He's about to make his last appearances as a club player, with his finale taking place at Wembley.
The last high point in Kroos' career may well be his last game as a club player. Though some decry him as an inconsistent player, at the height of his abilities, there's no denying his prowess as a playmaker and tactician. Kroos' final tournament with Germany was remarkable, with persisting injury issues mirroring his team's fortunate victory against France and an emphatic defeat of the Netherlands. Gone, though, was Reus, left out due to injury concerns.
Partnering up with Mats Hummels, Kroos came back to the national team, who needed a light in its darkest hour. The Euro 2024 was looking grim before its start, crisis looming over the team, and out of desperation, Kroos was called back. Forming a formidable trio with the two, Kroos coached the team to optimism. France's abilities were acknowledged, but Germany held onto one of the closest finishes in the tournament, sneaking past the Netherlands with a 2-1 victory. The three played under Xabi Alonso's tutelage, with Robert Andrich appreciating his time beside the strategist. Real Madrid has been Kroos' legacy - 10 years of dominance, assurance that victory is always around the corner. It's not about the trophies, but the spirit and inspiration he's provided others in the field.
Now, the players in the tightly knit midfield of the reigning superstar Kroos are identified as Aurélien Tchouaméni and Jude Bellingham. Both are young prodigies with a long and illustrious career ahead of them. Bellingham's story is noteworthy. His rapid ascension from top talent to an indispensable, dominant midfielder for Borussia Dortmund was remarkable. His sudden departure last summer left a substantial impact on the club, not only because of the missed championship due to a knee injury, but also because they never managed to recover from his loss. It was the reason for their lackluster season in the Bundesliga.
Kroos, the supreme midfielder in Real Madrid's empire, remains unstoppable. He's a legend in his own right and an indispensable figure in the team. Despite his brilliance, Kroos decides to step away to explore beyond his peak. His decision not to retire like a footballer who was not given enough credit for his formidable career. Kroos remains in command; on the field, and in his career choices.
The Greifswald native, Germany's most successful footballer, has always disregarded public opinions and judgments. Particularly his home country. In Spain, Kroos experienced the love and adoration of the masses. The tears shed during his farewell at the Bernabeu resonated globally. Kroos bared his emotions, something he hadn't shown off in a long time. This vulnerability made him less accessible as a celebrity in his home country, similar to the likeable Lukas Podolski, the artistic Thomas Müller, the eloquent Mats Hummels, and the charming Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Is he still a world-class footballer?
Criticism ultimately reached Kroos in 2022. After Real Madrid's Champions League victory over Liverpool, a noticeably distressed Kroos spoke to ZDF about his triumphant victory. He was readying to reveal his thoughts on the most significant triumph of his career when he was questioned about how severely Real was under pressure. Kroos lost his temper. His comments: "It took you 90 minutes to come up with reasonable questions, and you ask me these two cr*ppy questions?" With his hands over his face, he concluded the interview abruptly. Followed by complaint: "It's really bad, really bad. Really." And a final zinger: "All you asked were two negative questions, you knew I was from Germany." Kroos had his unforgettable slip-up moment.
The belated deification of the calm brain of Real Madrid in Germany ensued. Netflix released a documentary about him, and they further humanized him through his humorous podcast "Einfach mal luppen" with his brother Felix. Real coach Carlo Ancelotti expressed, "I hope he can win the Champions League again, but Toni Kroos' career doesn't need another Champions League win to be engraved in history. He is already history." Kroos boasted a perfect record in all his Champions League finals (Kroos five, Real eight). Even then, he was considered by Ancelotti for the Ballon d'Or, as a world-class player.
At Wembley, Kroos, Hummels, and Reus unite one last time: a nostalgic and significant moment in German football's history. A heart-wrenching triumph with crumpled heroes and, undoubtedly, tears.
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At Wembley, Toni Kroos, Mats Hummels, and Marco Reus will once again make soccer history, as they played together in the Champions League final 10 years ago.In this year's Champions League final at Wembley, German football greats Toni Kroos, Mats Hummels, and Marco Reus will have an opportunity to leave a lasting impression on football history.Ten years ago, Toni Kroos, Mats Hummels, and Marco Reus played against each other in the Champions League final at Wembley, and this weekend, they will meet again on the same hallowed turf, continuing to make their mark on football history.
