Could 2016 be the year of Marco Reus? As Germany start their final preparations ahead of the European Championships with a game versus England in Berlin on Saturday, this is one of the most intriguing questions.
It might be rather hard to believe given his cult status, but Euro 2016 will be the first big international tournament in Reus' career. Granted, he was part of Joachim Loew's squad at Euro 2012 as well, officially still as a Borussia Monchengladbach star at the time, but he was a fringe player in Poland and Ukraine. Reus didn't play a single minute at the group stages, and only started once, scoring a majestic goal in the 4-2 win over Greece in the quarter-finals. Even that wasn't enough as he was left on the bench in the semi-final, coming on as a second half substitute for Lukas Podolski, but eventually unable to prevent the defeat at the hands of Italy.
The World Cup in Brazil was supposed to be another matter entirely. Reus was considered Germany's brightest star following two magnificent seasons at Borussia Dortmund. He scored five goals in the qualifiers, and approached the tournament in phenomenal form, but fate decided differently.
The baby-faced midfielder sufferend ankle injury in the very last friendly against Armenia and missed out on the big event. Reus had to watch the World Cup on TV, as his friends won the title without him. This was a major blow, but Marco managed to recover from it mentally, to the delight of every fan on the globe. "Of course, it was a dramatic experience for me, but I just had to accept it", he said.
Reus belongs to a rather small group of stars who are simply impossible to dislike. His technical skills are a joy to watch, but it is his personality that makes him such a popular player. This is why almost every top club in Europe wanted to sign the German – he would be a perfect addition to any squad in every possible way. And yet – in spite of interest from Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal and others – Reus decided to remain loyal to the club of his youth, which naturally made him even more popular.
This was not an easy decision. Dortmund went through a significant crisis in the first round of 2014/15 season, and were incredibly positioned in relegation zone at the winter break. Reus' departure seemed almost inevitable in those circumnstances, as many assumed that he won't be ready to stay at the club that doesn't take part in the Champions League. Nothing was further from the truth, because that was the exact timing Reus chose to extend his contract until 2019. He didn't even include a buy-out clause in it. The club were wrong to release him as 17-year-old in 2006, but he didn't hold any grudges. He returned through the front door in 2012, and only wanted to stay.
Reus' choice prompted other Dortmund stars to act like him. Jurgen Klopp might have left Dortmund last summer, but his replacement Thomas Tuchel managed to persuade all the leading players to stay, promising them to improve their play. Mats Hummels, Ilkay Gundogan, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have all performed superbly this season, as Borussia changed their style quite significantly, putting more emphasis on possession, and yet still moving the ball very quickly in the final third of the pitch.
Reus is at the very heart of the progress. With 19 goals in all competitions, he is fast approaching his personal season record of 23 achieved in 2013/14. He is very likely to break it, and we shouldn't forget six assists as well. Hopes were high in the beginning of the year, as the midfielder told in the interview to Die Welt in January: "Tuchel's approach helped us a lot, and now we are able to dominate games against the teams we used to have problems with".
Will he be able to perform as brilliantly in the national team as well? With Bastian Schweinsteiger injured, likely to miss Euro 2016, Germany need a new leader, and Reus is definitely able to take that role. He will make Die Mannschaft even more likable if he is to shine in the summer.
"I want to remain injury free ahead of Euro 2016, and then I will show what I couldn't show at the World Cup", Reus said. The road to France starts in Berlin against Roy Hodgson's promising and talented side. Would you bet on Reus scoring in Joe Hart's absence?
