At 10:30, Coach Müller called everyone to the center circle.
"Good first session. We've seen enough to start making tactical decisions." He pulled out a folder. "This afternoon, we're doing an 11v11 scrimmage. Team A versus Team B. I'm reading out Team A—these are our current first-choice players based on club performance and previous camps. Everyone else is Team B."
Marco's heart raced. This was the first real evaluation. Being on Team A meant you were ahead. Being on Team B meant you had to prove yourself.
"Team A," Müller began. "Zieler in goal. Defense: Boateng, Hummels, Pezzoni, Karkoschka. Midfield: Celozzi, Tyrała. Attacking three: Özil right, [unknown player] center, [Bremen winger] left. Striker: [unknown]."
Marco's heart sank. He was not on Team A.
"Everyone else is Team B. We'll announce that lineup at lunch." Müller closed his folder. "Shower, eat, rest. Video session at 2 PM, then we scrimmage at 4. Dismissed."
The locker room was a mix of celebration and disappointment. The Team A players were energized, confident. The Team B players were quieter, more determined.
Marco sat down next to Stefano, who was surprisingly upbeat despite being on Team B.
"Don't look so grim," Stefano said. "Team B is where you prove yourself. Team A just has to maintain. We get to attack and show what we can do."
Stefano grinned. "Besides, Hummels is on Team A. I'm going to be marking him all afternoon. Great learning opportunity."
Marco appreciated the attitude. He did a quick check with the system.
He'd crossed the March threshold—70.0, the number Coach Werner required. The Dortmund contract was secure now, even if he got cut from the national team.
But he wasn't here just to secure his club contract. He was here to make the German U17 squad.
And that meant beating team A.
2:00 PM - Video Analysis Session:
The team gathered in a classroom—standard lecture hall setup with rows of desks facing a large screen. Coach Müller stood at the front with a laptop connected to a projector.
"This afternoon's scrimmage simulates match conditions," he began, clicking through slides. "We're running a 4-2-3-1 system, standard for German youth teams. I want to review the key principles before we take the pitch."
The screen showed tactical diagrams: player positions, movement patterns, pressing triggers.
"Wingers," Müller said, highlighting the wide attackers, "your primary job is width. Stretch the defense. When we have the ball, stay wide, force their fullbacks to track you. This creates space centrally for our tens and striker."
Marco took mental notes. This was traditional winger play—exactly what he'd anticipated.
"Secondarily, you provide crosses. Early crosses, cut-backs, whipped balls to the far post. Variety matters. If you become predictable, defenders will adjust."
Özil raised his hand. "Coach, what about inverted play? Cutting inside onto our strong foot?"
Müller nodded. "You can do that, but it's secondary. Primary responsibility is width and service. If you see space to cut inside and shoot, take it. But don't abandon your width responsibility."
Marco felt the tactical constraint. His natural game—cutting inside, creating centrally—was being classified as "secondary." To succeed here, he'd have to prove he could play traditionally first, then show the modern stuff as bonus.
Adaptability. Versatility.
"Defensive responsibilities," Müller continued. "When we lose the ball, wingers track back immediately. Press their fullbacks, cut off passing lanes, work back to help your own fullback. We don't carry passengers. Everyone defends."
More notes. Marco's stamina was good (8.0/10), and his system had already optimized his body for endurance. The defensive work rate wouldn't be a problem physically, but he'd have to show the commitment.
The video session continued for forty-five minutes, breaking down various scenarios: how to attack against a high line, how to defend against counters, set-piece responsibilities, transition moments.
By the end, Marco had a clear picture of what the coaches wanted to see this afternoon.
Now he just had to deliver it.
4:00 PM - Team B Lineup Announcement:
The Team B players gathered at the side of Pitch 1. Coach Weber had a clipboard with their lineup.
"Team B starting eleven," he announced. "This is your chance to prove you deserve to be on Team A. Show us intensity, quality, and tactical discipline."
He read out the names:
Goalkeeper: Burchert (Sascha Burchert, a keeper Marco didn't know)
Defense: Four players Marco vaguely recognized from meal times, none standing out particularly.
Midfield: Two defensive midfielders, both solid but unspectacular.
Attacking Three:
Right Wing: [Unknown player from smaller academy]
Center: Sebastian Tyrała (the midfielder who'd appeared in friendlies)
Left Wing: Marco Reus
Striker: Another unknown player.
Marco felt the weight of the position. Left wing, the spot he'd trained for, the position where he'd have to beat out his competition.
Weber finished reading the lineup. "Substitutes will rotate in at halftime and sixty minutes. Everyone gets playing time. But if you start, you have thirty minutes to make an impression. Use them wisely."
The scrimmage kicked off at 4:15 PM.
Team A controlled possession early, exactly as expected. They were the better players, more experienced at this level, more comfortable with the system.
Özil orchestrated from the right, his movement intelligent, his passing crisp.
Marco stayed wide left, forcing his marker—a decent fullback from Team A—to track him. When Team B won possession, Marco showed for the ball, offered width, tried to stretch the defense.
15th minute: Team B won the ball in midfield. Tyrała played it wide to Marco.
Marco's instinct screamed cut inside, shoot. His signature move.
But Coach Müller's words echoed: Primary responsibility is width and service.
Marco stayed wide, took two touches to set up a cross, and whipped the ball toward the far post with his left foot. The striker attacked it but headed over.
From the sideline, Coach Weber made notes.
23rd minute: Another chance. Marco received the ball wide, saw space to cut inside.
Again, he resisted. Stayed wide, drove to the byline, cut the ball back low. The midfielder arriving couldn't convert, but the movement was correct.
More notes from the coaches.
28th minute: Team A scored. Özil delivered a perfect cross from the right, and their striker headed home. 1-0.
The Team A players celebrated. Özil jogged back with quiet satisfaction.
Looking at the celebration of team A, Marco felt the competitive fire ignite. I can do that. I can do better.
31st minute: Team B won the ball deep. The center back played it forward to Tyrała, who immediately switched it wide to Marco.
This time, Marco saw something different: the Team A fullback had over-committed forward, anticipating another wide cross. The space inside was open.
Now.
Marco cut inside sharply—his signature move, trained to near-perfection. The fullback lunged but missed. Suddenly Marco was central, twenty-two yards out, right-footed shot available.
The Team A center backs converged, but Marco had already seen the pass: a through ball, weighted perfectly, into the path of the Team B striker making a diagonal run.
Marco's right foot connected cleanly. With the precision of a surgeon, the ball split the defense.
The ball met the running striker with perfect timing, setting him one-on-one with Zieler, and he didn't hesitate, finished low.
1-1.
Goal.
Assist for Marco Reus.
The Team B players celebrated. The Team B coaches made extensive notes. From the corner of his eye, Marco observed the pitch.
The players of team A weren't smiling anymore.
Message received.
Halftime came at 1-1. The coaches huddled separately, discussing, evaluating, making decisions.
Marco sat on the grass, breathing steadily, reviewing his first thirty minutes:
[Scrimmage Analysis - First Half:
Performance Rating: 8.7/10
#Actions:
- 23 touches
- 2 crosses (width discipline)
- 1 through ball assist (vision + execution)
- 4 defensive tracking actions
- 87% passing accuracy]
Coach Weber approached Marco during the break.
"Good work, Reus. You showed discipline staying wide early, then punished them when they over-committed. Exactly what we want to see—tactical understanding plus execution." He paused. "Second half, I want more of the same. Keep them honest wide, but if you see space
inside, take it. You've earned some freedom."
"Yes, Coach."
As the second half began, Marco felt the difference. He'd proven he could follow instructions. Now he could play his game.
And he intended to make the most of it.