When he played his last international match to date, the national players wore a black jersey. The color, which is also associated with mourning, perfectly symbolized the image of the selection of the German Football Association (DFB): they lost 2-0 against England in London on June 29, 2021 – ending in the round of 16 of the tournament that was then held across Europe E.M.
Almost three years later, Toni Kroos, 34, decided to add more to his 106 international matches. On Monday, the Real Madrid star returned to the national team in Frankfurt/Main and immediately put on a jersey. In the afternoon, marketing measures were scheduled for the players with the white shirt created especially for the home European Championship. A new, bright, positive jersey for a new beginning – that should definitely be available with returning Kroos before the tournament in Germany. So again the dress fits the situation. The European Championship will be played from June 14th to July 14th, the DFB selection will test against France on Saturday in Lyon (9 p.m., ZDF) and three days later in Frankfurt/Main against the Netherlands (8:45 p.m., RTL). With Kroos as the old, new leader. In a squad that is very changed with six new players and needs leadership.
When Kroos recently announced his comeback, he made it known that he did not want to be seen as a “savior”. But it should be clear to him that he will be the main focus. How will he train? How will he play? How will he perform off the pitch? All eyes will be on him, on Kroos, the Real Madrid strategist who has won the Champions League more often than any other German professional footballer – once with FC Bayern, four times with Real.
Leader in midfield: Toni Kroos
Source: Presse Bildagentur ULMER/picture alliance
Last Thursday, national coach Julian Nagelsmann, 36, presented his squad for the two games at a press conference in Frankfurt/Main. WELT AM SONNTAG asked him: What role will Kroos have under him, how important will he be? “It is very important,” replied Nagelsmann. And he spontaneously referred to the term “Querpass-Toni”, which used to be heard again and again among fans and experts. “Unfortunately, anyone who still writes this today has no idea about football,” emphasized Nagelsmann. “Toni is currently the player in Europe with the most outplayed opponents – by far.” Kroos knows exactly “what he can and cannot do. Toni has a very good feel for this and an incredible amount of experience. We had a lot of conversations. He can be a brilliant link between offense and defense.”
One of many
Kroos collected titles en masse, but never received much recognition in this country – at least according to many people around him. That always resonates when it comes to Toni Kroos. In 2014, for example, when Germany won the World Cup, the focus was primarily on the team. When it went into detail, others were praised. Manuel Neuer, 37, for example, who took goalkeeping in Brazil to a new level. Or Bastian Schweinsteiger, 39, who played the game of his life covered in blood in the final against Argentina. Not to forget Mario Götze, 31, who scored the decisive goal in the final. Toni Kroos, who was in the starting eleven in all seven World Cup games, was just one of many.
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Two years ago, for example, how much he felt alienated from his homeland – Kroos moved from Bayern to Real in 2014 – became apparent. Real won 1-0 over Liverpool in the Champions League final. This was followed by a now legendary interview on ZDF, which Kroos ended prematurely. “Was it surprising to you that Real Madrid got into quite a bit of trouble? was one of the questions asked by reporter Nils Kaben. “So you had 90 minutes to think of sensible questions, honestly. And then you ask me such a stupid question,” replied Kroos, shaking his head and walking away. The reporter tried to explain himself, but Kroos no longer appeared in front of the camera. Instead, the ZDF picture panned into a wide circle and Kroos could be heard shouting: “You first ask three negative questions, then you already know that you come from Germany.”
The impact of this interview was great. It could even be marketed. Together with the journalist Oliver Wurm, Kroos developed an idea: 90 celebrities, from Robbie Williams and Barbara Schöneberger to Roger Federer and Joachim Löw, each presented one good Question to Kroos – and he answered it. Can be read in a book published by Heyne-Verlag.
Kroos has sovereignty
Toni Kroos was born in Greifswald in 1990. From Greifswalder FC, where he started playing football in 1997, he moved to FC Hansa Rostock in 2002, and from there five years later to FC Bayern, which he left on loan for a year in the 2009/2010 season to play for Bayer Leverkusen to play. After winning the World Cup with Germany in Brazil, he joined Real. Since then he has been a fixture in the “Royal” star ensemble.
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He was the same at Bayern or Bayer, but he mostly operated under the radar. His playing style, this space-opening, this space-interpreting, the filigree, the anticipatory – it was nowhere near as honored by many experts as is the case in Spain. Now, of all things, this fine spirit is supposed to give the German game a new structure, and above all, finally a hold, after many fans see themselves as a result of the recent wavering performances. And which the team so urgently needs.
Whether that works remains to be seen. Kroos, he let everyone know, is “in the mood” for the national team and the home tournament. How great his standing is was already evident when he announced his comeback. He himself informed the public on February 22nd on his social media channels. The DFB media department, which usually announces a nomination, was informed, but Kroos had sovereignty over the news in conjunction with his agency “Sports 360”, which also represents national coach Nagelsmann.
Title collector with Real Madrid: Toni Kroos still plays an important role for the Royals even at 34
Source: Getty Images/Alexander Hassenstein
The nature of the announcement may only be a side note – it also says a lot about the status of the national player, who has been running the podcast “Einfach mal luppen”. As authentic and sometimes funny as the brothers are in it, Toni Kroos often slips into the role of the expert in the audio format – the role that he himself criticized for years.
The majority of experts now agree – and welcome Kroos’ return. “Football Germany can be happy that Toni Kroos is back,” said Sami Khedira, with whom Kroos won the World Cup title, on DAZN: “But it shouldn’t be portrayed as if he won us the European Championship title , everything alone and the lineup does. He’s not Messi!”
Who plays alongside Kroos?
Fredi Bobic, 52, is also impressed by the comeback. The 1996 European champion told WELT AM SONNTAG: “Toni knows how to be successful. He can organize and determine the game. With his experience he will be of great help, especially to young players and those who do not have much international experience.”
Dietmar “Didi” Hamann, 50, who finished second with Germany at the 2002 World Cup, sees Kroos as an “outstanding player”. However, in an interview with WELT AM SONNTAG, he also expressed concerns about the age structure in the central midfield. In his opinion, there shouldn’t be too many players over 30 years old, otherwise the team would have to worry about being overrun.
As far as the offensive area is concerned, only Thomas Müller, 34, and İlkay Gündoğan, 33, are over 30. The remaining candidates who are eligible for this include Florian Wirtz, 20, Kai Havertz, 24 and Jamal Musiala, 21, even younger. Leroy Sané, 28, is suspended for the two European Championship tests after a red card.
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In any case, it is much more important who Nagelsmann chooses alongside veteran Kroos. Due to the fact that Joshua Kimmich, 29, will play as a right-back in the future and the absence of Leon Goretzka, 29, there is a lack of experience. Kimmich has so far made 82 appearances for Germany, Goretzka 57. The candidates for the role alongside Kroos have only made five appearances: Pascal Groß, 32, played four international matches, Robert Andrich, 29, one game – Aleksandar Pavlovic, 19, is still without an international match. However, they are players who consistently perform well at their clubs.
And Toni Kroos has that experience.
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