Bundesliga stars, sinners and stories

The rise of Reus, Dortmund's next star?

Pace, vision, skill, a nose for goals - 22-year-old Marco Reus really has it all. The attacking midfielder scored 18 and set up 13 more for Gladbach this season - astounding when you think the Foals had 49 goals as a unit all campaign. Gladbach, the Bundesliga's clear surprise package, will miss their talisman next season. Reus is going to his childhood home, Dortmund, to Bayern Munich's dismay.

Bundesliga stars, sinners and stories

Aggravated 'Robbery'

The dynamic duo on Bayern's flanks, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery (aka Robbery), came to blows recently. Ribery, apparently upset with his partner in crime, doled out a wee slap on the chops. After a fine, an apology, and plenty of grumbling from a slighted Robben, the winger ultimately extended his Bayern contract anyway. All will surely be forgiven if the Bavarians can win the Champions League.

Bundesliga stars, sinners and stories

No goals, no glory: the 'failures'

Fans can be cruel sometimes, but this verdict of "Versager!" ("Failures!") reached by the faithful at the Betzenberg stadium is not entirely unjustified. Kaiserslautern, at least until coach Marco Kurz got sacked, played rather like Borussia Mönchengladbach - except with zero offensive spark. One of the best defensive sides in Germany landed rock bottom in the league; scoring a pitiful 24 goals.

Bundesliga stars, sinners and stories

The success story, cut short

Very few people thought the pint-sized newcomers Augsburg had even a chance of Bundesliga survival, yet coach Jos Luhukay led his anonymous squad to safety. Then, after another home success - Augsburg were rock solid in front of their fans all season - Jos Luhukay quit his post. Club chairman Walter Seinsch has ditched almost all his backroom colleagues, despite the success they brought him.

Bundesliga stars, sinners and stories

Not with a bang but a whimper

Cologne were the hollow men, the squashed men for much of their relegation season. Despite a strong start and an on-form Lukas Podolski, the Bundesliga's most capricious club divebombed. When facing adversity, Cologne invariably crumbled - often in the space of a few second-half minutes after an otherwise good game. "Prince Poldi," after the obligatory Cologne melodrama, is now off to Arsenal.

Bundesliga stars, sinners and stories

Freiburg's savior: Streich

Freiburg were the worst team in all the Bundesliga in the first half of the season. So in the winter break the tailspinning side turned to new coach Christian Streich. He immediately lost star striker Papiss Demba Cisse, yet this seemed to galvanize the side. After 13 first-half points, Streich's Freiburg grabbed 27 in the second - the seventh-best record in the league, enough to dodge the drop.

Bundesliga stars, sinners and stories

Spinning the merry-go-round

Hertha Berlin's off-pitch manager, Michael Preetz, presided over two coaching changes in what may yet prove a disastrous season. Hertha must still fight Fortuna Düsseldorf in the relegation playoff. Otto Rehhagel is now at the helm, Michael Skibbe had a brief, disastrous tenure, while season-starter Markus Babbel left under a cloud of mutual acrimony; but when Babbel left, Hertha sat up in 11th.

Bundesliga stars, sinners and stories

A fond farewell

"Muchas gracias, Señor Raúl" was written on a giant sign for Raul, when the striker did his lap of honor with his five little ones in Gelsenkirchen. No wonder. The Spanish veteran jumped straight in for two years, sometimes wore the armband, and led Schalke to third in the table this season. One might well argue he was as much a talisman for the Royal Blues as back in his heyday at "Raúl Madrid."

Bundesliga stars, sinners and stories

A welcome return

Schalke were shocked to see coach Ralf Rangnick leave far earlier than Raul, on September 22. The renowned tactician and hands-on coach said he was suffering from burnout, and needed a break from the game. He ducked wholly out of the limelight for three full months, but recently announced he was back on the market. That news is liable to leave several club chairmen licking their lips.

Bundesliga stars, sinners and stories

A tragic turn with a happy end

On November 19, referee Babak Rafati sought to take his own life - a harsh reminder of the Bundesliga's ultimate insignificance. The referee was found in time and survived. After months recuperating, Rafati recently said how glad he is to have lived. He said he may or may not decide to return to match officiating, but far more importantly shared the happy news that he plans to marry this year.

Author: Mark Hallam | Editor: Simon Bone

Germany's EURO 2012 Preliminary Squad

Manuel Neuer

Neuer is the number one at German behemoths Bayern Munich and also for the national team. The 26-year-old isn't just a great keeper, his throws into the field can often lead to attacking moves towards the opponent's goal.

Germany's EURO 2012 Preliminary Squad

Tim Wiese

The 30-year-old has had plenty of success with Bremen in the Bundesliga and internationally. The veteran keeper, who's not averse to taking the odd risk, is also an established benchwarmer for the national team. At club level, he is now moving to Hoffenheim.

Germany's EURO 2012 Preliminary Squad

Ron-Robert Zieler

The Hannover goalkeeper says himself that he is the third in line for the Germany spot. As a 16-year-old he managed the jump from Cologne to Manchester United. Now aged 23, one of his best traits is his calm style of play. But there's a younger pretender who arguably enjoyed an even stronger Bundesliga season...

Germany's EURO 2012 Preliminary Squad

Marc-André ter Stegen

Mönchengladbach's goalkeeper hasn't yet played for the national team. The 20-year-old was one of the main reasons for Gladbach's fourth place this season in the German top flight. He's renowned not just as a great shot-stopper, but a thinking goalkeeper - always talking to his defense, taking many touches of the ball, and kicking with great accuracy.

Germany's EURO 2012 Preliminary Squad

Holger Badstuber

The gifted left footer has been playing for Bayern Munich since 2002. Useful in either central defense or as full-back - Badstuber loves to come forward and is a great set-piece taker. The 23-year-old is one of the most important players in the national team.

Germany's EURO 2012 Preliminary Squad

Jérôme Boateng

The son of a Ghanaian father, Boateng has had a hard road to the top. From Hertha Berlin he moved to Hamburg, then he went to Manchester City, then Bayern Munich. The 23-year-old is a dynamic, versatile player, though he prefers to play central defense.

Germany's EURO 2012 Preliminary Squad

Benedikt Höwedes

The 24-year-old is growing as a player day by day. He is captain at Schalke and has helped the Royal Blues to the Champions League. Höwedes was U21 European champion in 2009. He's also yet another example of Germany's versatile new defensive generation, happy in the middle or out wide.

Germany's EURO 2012 Preliminary Squad

Mats Hummels

The defensive player with a good passing game started his career at Bayern Munich. The 23-year-old had his big breakthrough in Dortmund. He's already won two Bundesliga titles, and he also was European Champion with the U21 German national team in 2009.

Germany's EURO 2012 Preliminary Squad

Philipp Lahm

The captain is one of the role models in the national team set-up, not just because he plays well, wherever the coach puts him in the defensive line. The 28-year-old isn't afraid to speak his mind. Recently he told German media that the treatment of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko was "not in accordance with my understanding of democracy."

Germany's EURO 2012 Preliminary Squad

Per Mertesacker

The 1.98m tall defender from Arsenal is one of the first names on the team sheet for the German team. But, he has been battling fitness lately. The 27-year-old, long a mainstay with Werder Bremen, was one of the shining lights in the 2006 World Cup. But messrs. Höwedes, Hummels and Boateng are gunning for his spot.

Germany's EURO 2012 Preliminary Squad

Marcel Schmelzer

Schmelzer, 24, is one of the newer names in Joachim Löw's squad. This season he has been one of the key defenders for Borussia Dortmund. The attacking, left wing-back was U21 European Champion with Germany in 2009 and won the Bundesliga in 2011 and 2012.

Germany's EURO 2012 Preliminary Squad

Mario Götze

Still a teenager, Götze has been lauded as one of the players of his generation. Despite spending months injured this season, the 19-year-old played a major role in Dortmund's back-to-back titles. Some estimate his market value at the 45-million-euro mark. Dortmund reportedly rebuffed a high-profile enquiry from Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger - who seems to be a big fan of the German squad.

Germany's EURO 2012 Preliminary Squad

Sami Khedira

Khedira hails from the southwest of Germany, though he has Tunisian heritage too. As a youngster with local club Stuttgart, Khedira won the 2007 Bundesliga title. Now he can add a Spanish league title - freshly secured with Real Madrid - to his CV.

Germany's EURO 2012 Preliminary Squad

Toni Kroos

Cultured midfielder Toni Kroos joined Bayern Munich aged just 16, after leaving Rostock. He debuted for Bayern at 17, becoming the youngest player in the club's history. Now aged 22, Kroos is already a national team veteran - he went to South Africa for the 2010 World Cup. He's arguably the best set-piece taker and long-passer in all of Germany.

Germany's EURO 2012 Preliminary Squad

Ilkay Gündogan

Born in Gelsenkirchen with Turkish roots, Gündogan might have upset his childhood friends joining Borussia Dortmund. After a slow start with the champions, the 21-year-old string-puller came into his own after Christmas and also made his Germany debut this season. Now he's been rewarded further with at least a provisional call-up.

Germany's EURO 2012 Preliminary Squad

Julian Draxler

This 18-year-old midfielder is popping up on the international radar for the first time - but he's already made massive waves in Bundesliga circles. He was the youngest debutante in Schalke history at 17, and is now a staple for the Royal Blues. Happy to take players on, comfortable on the flank and in the middle, Draxler also possesses a jackhammer disguised as a right foot.

Germany's EURO 2012 Preliminary Squad

Thomas Müller

Müller exploded onto the international scene in South Africa two summers ago. With five World Cup goals, he bagged the coveted Golden Boot award. Despite a patchy season with Bayern Munich, the multi-purpose attacker's inclusion in Löw's squad was all but guaranteed. 22-year-old Müller will join the training camp late, only after Bayern play the German Cup final and the Champions League final.

Germany's EURO 2012 Preliminary Squad

Mesut Özil

Arguably Germany's biggest star, and now one of Real Madrid's mainstays as well. Mesut Özil is still just 23, but in stints at Schalke, Werder Bremen and now in Madrid, this classic "number 10" has blossomed into one of the world's foremost playmakers.

Germany's EURO 2012 Preliminary Squad

André Schürrle

After spearheading Mainz's surge in the 2010/11 season, Schürrle has since established himself with his new club Bayer Leverkusen, and with the national team. The 21-year-old is known for his speed on the ball, two strong feet and a powerful shot. Often one of Löw's substitutes, the youngster might just have eyes on Lukas Podolski's first team spot.

Germany's EURO 2012 Preliminary Squad

Marco Reus

Reus' international career was littered with injury and illness-based false starts - but his Bundesliga form this season meant that excluding him would never be an option. Reus, playing as something between a midfielder and a forward, spearheaded Borussia Mönchengladbach's improbable charge to fourth with 18 league goals and 13 assists. The 22-year-old is off to Borussia Dortmund next season.

Germany's EURO 2012 Preliminary Squad

Bastian Schweinsteiger

One of Germany's most capped, most decorated players - aged just 27. "Schweini" has picked up five Bundesliga titles and five German Cup titles (he's gunning for a sixth this month) with Bayern Munich. But this summer he also has the chance to win the Champions League, and then finally pick up a winner's medal in the German jersey - the missing links in his trophy cabinet.

Germany's EURO 2012 Preliminary Squad

Lars Bender

Germany's Bender brothers look set to have a lasting impact on the domestic and international game. Lars, like Sven, cut his teeth at 1860 Munich - but he now plays for Bayer Leverkusen. Both the twins have been capped for Germany, but they have never taken to the field together; given that they play almost identical roles, they might be fighting each other for a German berth for years to come.

Germany's EURO 2012 Preliminary Squad

Sven Bender

Sven is 12 minutes younger than his twin Lars - and yet as a Borussia Dortmund regular, he has won more silverware in his "shorter" life. He has a pair of league titles to his name with Dortmund, and has a reputation as one of the hardest-working, most defensively gifted midfielders in the German game.

Germany's EURO 2012 Preliminary Squad

Lukas Podolski

"Prince Poldi" is Polish by birth, but every bit a citizen of Cologne. He hated his time at Bayern so much that he ran home to the Billy Goats. After failing to save them from relegation this season, he's off again - to Arsenal. Poldi has been a regular in the German team since 2004 - and he's only 26. He already has 95 caps to his name, but a new generation is gunning for his spot in the side.

Germany's EURO 2012 Preliminary Squad

Mario Gomez

One of the Bundesliga's most prolific poachers. Gomez was the top-scorer in the league last season, and was just pipped by red-hot Dutchman Klaas-Jan Huntelaar this time out. Still, 26 league goals is hardly a poor effort. His scoring quota is notably lower, however, in a German jersey - something Gomez would surely love to change in June and perhaps even on July 1.

Germany's EURO 2012 Preliminary Squad

Miroslav Klose

Now plying his trade for Lazio in Rome, 33-year-old Miroslav Klose is Germany's oldest player. He's also just six goals away from eclipsing Gerd Müller as the highest scoring Germany player ever. Klose has been known to score that many in a single tournament before, and Löw will have a tough job choosing between the physical presence of Gomez and Klose's superior teamplay.

Germany's EURO 2012 Preliminary Squad

Cacau

Cacau is Brazilian by birth, but took up German citizenship and made his national team debut in 2009. The 31-year-old is one of Stuttgart's most loyal servants with 237 appearances and 78 goals for the club. Cacau partnered Mario Gomez up front back in the 2006/7 season, when the Swabians snagged a Bundesliga title.

Author: Mark Hallam | Editor: Andreas Illmer