National team
Kroos’ emotional weeks: “It’s important to switch immediately”
Will end his active career after the European Championships at home: Toni Kroos. Photo
© Federico Gambarini/dpa
At the end of his extraordinary career, Toni Kroos is having one highlight after another. But the high frequency helps him to stay focused, explains the national soccer player.
“Actually, the best thing that could have happened was that there was a Champions League final afterwards – also with reference to this European Championship now,” said Kroos in the joint podcast with his brother Felix “Einfach mal Luppen” looking back on his farewell in Madrid on May 25th. The 0-0 draw against Betis Sevilla was his last home game for Real after ten years. He was given an emotional farewell and shed tears.
He will “never forget” this weekend and I don’t want to, explained Kroos. When he has time, he will “bring it back” and he will be reminded of it through pictures and videos anyway. “But it was good and important to switch over straight away.” Preparations for the Champions League final, in which the Madrilenians beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 a week ago, had already begun just two days after the league match.
End of career is imminent
“I knew that now it might be about something even bigger, namely to make this farewell golden, or in this case, silver,” said Kroos, for whom it was the sixth Champions League title of his career and the fifth with Real. From June 14, when he opens the European Championship with Germany against Scotland, Kroos will be aiming for another silver trophy. He will end his career after the tournament.
This Friday (8.45 p.m./RTL) the German national team will play its last test match before the European Championship against Greece in Mönchengladbach.