This title secret is royal!
At least since the victorious final of the U17 World Cup on Saturday in Surakarta against France (4:3 on penalties), the whole of football Germany is raving about the winning mentality of our U17 national team: a golden mix of self-confidence and full commitment until the final whistle!
In order to maintain this attitude throughout the three weeks of the tournament, coach Christian Wück (50) and his boys came up with a variety of tricks – such as a panther poster in the dressing room that reminded Paris Brunner (17) and Co. of the superhero’s fighting spirit of the “Black Panther” film, who has to defend his village against the rest of the world in the action classic.
U17 World Cup: How Toni Kroos helped a hero win the title
Before the France final, a U17 hero received a very special motivational help in addition to such team activities – from none other than Toni Kroos (33)!
As BILD learned, the 2014 world champion addressed some encouraging words to striker Max Moerstedt (17) in a personal video. Among other things, Kroos told the Hoffenheim U19 talent: “I hope that you can do what I couldn’t do.”
U17 striker Max Moerstedt contributed four strong goals to Germany’s World Cup title
What does he mean by that? The Real superstar took part in the U17 World Cup in South Korea in 2007. In coach Heiko Herrlich’s (52) youth national team at the time, Kroos, like Moerstedt (four tournament goals), showed excellent performances and was voted the best player of the tournament with five goals – but the five-time Champions League winner failed in the last step towards the final with 1:3 against eventual world champions Nigeria.
Pure ecstasy Our U17 world champions celebrate so wildly!
A strong encouragement that had its effect on Saturday: Moerstedt not only prepared Noah Darvich (17) for Germany’s second goal against France, but also scored in the nerve-wracking penalty shootout.
Now the 1.94 meter tall blonde can claim a title that not even the insatiable trophy collector Kroos has won.