The Prestigious Champions League Tournament - Farewell and goodbye: Kroos or Reus ready for a glorious departure
The curtains are drawn back, the stage is clear for one final breathtaking performance. Saturday night (9 p.m./ZDF and DAZN) at London's iconic Wembley Stadium will see Borussia Dortmund take on the mighty Real Madrid in the Champions League final. With approximately 90,000 spectators and half a billion viewers worldwide, this is the ultimate set for these two powerhouse teams. Club legends Kroos (Real) and Reus (BVB) are set to say their goodbyes.
With tears likely to flow before the game's climax, Kroos reflects, "Honestly, I'm not thinking too much about myself. This is the most important game for the entire team, and we want to win it." All eyes are on his final performance, but he remains modest, "This is my last game for Real Madrid, but there's the European Championship with Germany after this."
The World Cup winner of 2014 had a bittersweet farewell at his last home game at the Bernabeu, with his teammates lifting him high and fans paying tribute. The emotion was overwhelming, and Kroos acknowledges, "It was amazing. I enjoyed it. I'm trying to push it aside because it's now all about the sporting aspect."
Kroos' impressive career with Real Madrid includes 22 trophies in a decade. "I hope he can win the Champions League again," said Carlo Ancelotti, Real's coach. Deserving of legendary status, "Toni Kroos' career doesn't need another Champions League title to go down in history. He is already history."
Vinicius Junior, his teammate, is already dreaming of a Ballon d'Or win for Kroos, "I'm signing right now that we'll win the Champions League final, then the Copa America, and that the Ballon d'Or will go to Toni Kroos." This illustrious honor would further solidify his status as a football icon.
Meanwhile, Reus' impressive career has been marred by injuries, preventing him from collecting more titles than the two cup wins with Borussia Dortmund. The offensive player's 2014 World Cup and 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 Champions League finals losses have left fans hoping he could still achieve more.
"I think he's not done yet," said Edin Terzic, the BVB coach, about his ex-captain, who plans to continue his career abroad following the expiry of his contract. Reus' last emotional act for the team was a stunning performance against FC Augsburg. Sebastian Kehl, the BVB's sporting director, nods, "I'd rather wish it for Marco. It'd be a great story if he scored the winning goal at the end. Although Marco's injury history suggests he might not be at the same level anymore, his value to the team won't be underestimated."
Kroos and Reus both have a unique place in Borussia Dortmund's history, with Kroos flourishing and Reus battling injuries. However, one thing is certain - they will both be key figures in Saturday's game. "I need Marco on Saturday. I need his qualities," declared Terzic.
Two more international stars' futures with BVB are uncertain. For the 35-year-old Mats Hummels, this could be his final game in a Dortmund jersey. If he doesn't get a contract extension, Hummels may move to European countries nearby. As a World Cup winner of 2014, he may play his last match for the BVB at this climactic game.
The future of Real Madrid's Luka Modric (38) remains uncertain. In a recent statement, the Croatian said, "I can't provide an answer on that yet." He may potentially continue playing for another season. His goal is to depart just like Toni Kroos did, but not from Wembley Stadium, but from the Benabéu.
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- Giving their all in the Champions League final, Marco Reus and Toni Kroos, both from Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid respectively, will bid farewell to their fans at Wembley Stadium, broadcast live on ZDF and DAZN.
- Marco Reus's last match with Borussia Dortmund before departing for a new club saw him deliver a remarkable performance against FC Augsburg, highlighting his significant value to the team.
- Kroos, with 22 trophies in a decade at Real Madrid, might win the Champions League for a third time, but his teammate Vinicius Junior hopes for even more accolades, including the Ballon d'Or.
- Spain's Toni Kroos, who has already achieved legendary status as a World Cup winner, aims to seal a successful departure from Real Madrid with yet another Champions League title.
- Long-time club legends and teammates Toni Kroos and Marco Reus are set to face off against each other in the Champions League final, with 90,000 spectators and half a billion viewers worldwide eagerly anticipating the clash.
- Edin Terzic, former captain Marco Reus's coach at Borussia Dortmund, believes that the offensive player has unfinished business, expressing hope that he might score the winning goal in his final game for the team.
- Given the fortunes of Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid in the Champions League, Reus's losses in four previous finals and Kroos's impressive decade with 22 trophies, the upcoming final is the culmination of a thrilling soccer journey.
- League captains Toni Kroos and Marco Reus, whose contributions to their respective teams have seen them write their names in the Champions League's history books, will continue to play leading roles in their teams' pursuit of glory at Wembley Stadium.
- Former captain Sebastian Kehl, now the sporting director at BVB, expressed his support for Marco Reus, who will be departing Germany for a new club at the end of his contract.
- Luka Modric's future with Real Madrid remains uncertain, with the influential midfielder considering whether to continue his career at the Bernabeu or seek opportunities elsewhere, as Toni Kroos did in a similar fashion.
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