Toni Kroos will play for the German national football team again around three years after his retirement. “Guys, short and painless: I will play for Germany again from March,” wrote the 34-year-old on the online platform Instagram. The Real Madrid midfielder announced that he would play for Germany from March. He is sure “that a lot more is possible with the team at the European Championships than most people believe.”
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“Julian contacted me and asked me if I could imagine something that hadn’t been in my head until then,” said Kroos in the podcast Just lick it. “The fact that the national coach calls and says that I am needed for the tournament in my own country is an incentive.”
National coach Julian Nagelsmann had said in an earlier interview on ZDFgym Kroos’ return to the national team has already been described as an “interesting thought”.
Kroos was last used at the 2021 European Championships. There he played all four games until the German team was eliminated in the round of 16 against England. Shortly afterwards he ended his national team career after 106 international matches. Now he wants to play for the national team again in the important international matches in France and against the Netherlands in March.
After more than two and a half years of international break, Kroos also feels physically ready for a comeback. But he warned against setting too high expectations. “Of course I want to help. But I’m definitely not the savior. Everyone can say goodbye to that straight away,” said the midfielder. “You shouldn’t think that this trick will make us favorites. That’s nonsense.”
Kroos’ return is also viewed critically
Kroos is the only German player to have won the Champions League five times, four times with Real Madrid and once with FC Bayern Munich. The 2014 world champion is also considered an icon at Real Madrid. DFB sports director Rudi Völler recently said that Kroos is “still a world-class player” who still shows that he is “capable of great things, of powerful things.”
But there had recently been discussions about the need for Kroos to return. “That would be quite a Titanic signal,” said football official Uli Hoeneß. Record national player Lothar Matthäus was also very skeptical. “Where should he play? If you bring Kroos back, you automatically weaken İlkay Gündoğan, even as captain,” warned the 1990 world champion.
Some national players, however, had spoken out in favor of Kroos’ comeback. “I’m always happy to play with Toni. If he has the desire and time, I’m happy to,” said Bayern professional Joshua Kimmich. Real Madrid’s Antonio Rüdiger was probably the strongest supporter of Kroos’ nomination. “And if I can speak so openly and honestly: I think many people think the same as me,” said the 30-year-old before the Champions League first leg in Leipzig kicker.
Toni Kroos will play for the German national football team again around three years after his retirement. “Guys, short and painless: I will play for Germany again from March,” wrote the 34-year-old on the online platform Instagram. The Real Madrid midfielder announced that he would play for Germany from March. He is sure “that a lot more is possible with the team at the European Championships than most people believe.”
“Julian contacted me and asked me if I could imagine something that hadn’t been in my head until then,” said Kroos in the podcast Just lick it. “The fact that the national coach calls and says that I am needed for the tournament in my own country is an incentive.”
