Before the home European Championships
Toni Kroos returns to the national football team
Toni Kroos will celebrate his comeback with the DFB team in March
© Gabor Krieg / Imago Images
Toni Kroos has put an end to the guesswork surrounding a DFB comeback. The 34-year-old from Real Madrid wants to play for the national team again in March.
Nagelsmann described Kroos’ return to ZDF’s “Sportstudio” in December as an “interesting thought”, thereby opening the door wide for speculation. Now the Real Madrid midfielder explained his decision like this: “Because I was asked by the national coach, I’m up for it and I’m sure that a lot more is possible with the team at the European Championships than most people currently believe!”
Toni Kroos already wants to play against France and the Netherlands
After 106 international matches, Kroos retired from the DFB in 2021 after the round of 16 defeat against England at the European Championships. Now he wants to play for the national team again in the important international matches in France and against the Netherlands in March – and then also at the European Championship in his own country, which begins for the DFB team on June 14th in Munich against Scotland.
Even in the autumn of his career, the native of Greifswald is one of the pillars of the team at Real Madrid. “Toni is irreplaceable, even when he doesn’t play,” coach Carlo Ancelotti recently enthused about the Mecklenburger.
DFB sports director Rudi Völler also recently said that Kroos is “still a world-class player” who still shows that he is “capable of great things, of powerful things.”
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Kroos won the Champions League five times
Midfield strategist Kroos doesn’t actually have to prove anything to anyone anymore. He is the only German player to have won the Champions League five times, four times with Real and once with FC Bayern Munich. The 2014 world champion is considered an icon for the Royals.
But opinions have recently differed on the debate about the need for Kroos to return. “That would be quite a Titanic signal,” said Bayern patron Uli Hoeneß. Record national player Lothar Matthäus was also very skeptical. “Where should he play? If you bring Kroos back, you automatically weaken Ilkay Gündogan, even as captain,” warned the 1990 World Cup captain.
Some national players, however, spoke 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 colleague 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 to “Kicker” before the guest appearance in Leipzig.