The DFB team entrusts its fate to Kroos' leadership.
Following the completion of the home European Championship, Toni Kroos calls a halt to his footballing career. A remarkable exit seems likely, given that although he's won the Champions League title, the EM Cup remains conspicuously absent from his collection. Kroos holds a crucial position for this event.
The presence of the royal at the DFB Media Center is perceptible early on. Seating areas are packed tighter than usual, and murmurs of English-speakers can be heard between the chairs. They're all waiting to hear from Toni Kroos. Footage of the German exceptional footballer appears on the massive screens: Pep Guardiola praises, Luka Modric gushes. As expected, Kroos arrives almost an hour late to his audience.
Kroos basks in his final chapters of his significant career, conveying a sense of tranquility. As the European Championship marks the finale of his active football career, he's at ease, spends ample time fielding questions, and delivers detailed responses while dishing out signs of wit. He's finally experiencing the admiration in Germany that he'd always had at Real Madrid. He no longer has anything to prove, as he's fully aware. Kroos is bombarded with inquiries about Jude Bellingham, and offhandedly mentions consulting his Real colleagues for advice regarding Scotland.
Traveling alongside the Champions League title he carries, Real Madrid edged past Borussia Dortmund in the Wembley final two weeks prior with a 2:0 victory. "That's both thrilling and disheartening," he expresses. He could've relished his fifth triumph with Real Madrid for a day before he moved onto the Germany's EM general rehearsals against Ukraine and Greece. For Kroos, the primary focus now revolves around Scotland, as his head is still reeling from the training session. Germany kicks off the tournament against Scotland on Friday (9 p.m., ZDF, Magenta, and in the ntv.de live ticker).
The unrivaled German superstar
Toni Kroos's return subtly signals a new era for the German national soccer team. National coach Julian Nagelsmann reinstated the 34-year-old for the home EM, aiming to rebuild the team's structure fundamentally. After the numerous misfires from Hansi Flick's era, the team expects restoration following the World Cup's underwhelming performance in Qatar 2022.
Standing out from the other current German footballers is Kroos: The only counterpart to his lofty status is Ilkay Gündoğan who plays at a comparable level, but hasn't garnered as many trophies and has struggled to find his role in the national team. Thomas Müller exudes veteranism, but primarily makes his mark in the Bundesliga and in increasingly joker roles. Manuel Neuer is a pioneer in the global goalkeeping arena, but has underperformed recently. Kroos, on the other hand, shines unequivocally: A decade in the Real midfield, without any rivals, with triumphs in the Spanish league and of the highest caliber.
Kroos remains above it all: When Kroos speaks of the German national team, it's a voice of someone who's intimately aware of the team's potential - and its limitations. He discusses periods of weakness, such as the first half against Greece. About counterattack defense, which could stand improvement. By acknowledging the potential for improvement, he reiterates the necessity of heightened consistency. "It's the ideal setting for proving that," he says. Despite the 2:1 victory against Greece and a dismal first half, Kroos remarks that they were "fully aware that we might not be as good as we were in March."
A distinctive role
Presently, there's still uncertainty regarding the composition of the German national team under Becker. It's challenging to comprehend the team's current situation. North Star performances, like the 2:0 win against France and the 2:1 triumph against the Netherlands, demonstrate that the DFB team possesses sublime soccer skills. The assessment changes, however, with the EM warm-up games against Ukraine (0:0) and Greece (2:1). It's undeniable that the team is more stable now, despite the guiding principle that it can play magnificently even when uninspired. This contrasts with past years when the outcome was unforeseeable.
In Kroos's perspective, his return to the German national jersey is a positive indicator for everyone involved. "Obviously, I'm eager, and that was instrumental to my decision to return," says Kroos. The ultimate goal is to secure the title. "If I didn't believe that was attainable, then I wouldn't have done it." Concerns about his career ending in a slightly cliché manner - winning the Champions League, followed by the European Championship title - seem somewhat anticlimactic. "But I'd still accept it." He believes he, along with Captain Gündoğan, play a vital role in this endeavor. He contends there's no need to mine leadership roles.
His responsibility isunique: He has to ensure that everyone gives their best performance. Out of the 27 players in Germany's European Championship squad, 12 have never participated in a tournament before. With thousands of Scots expected in Munich before the first game or when something goes wrong during the game, it can quickly become a case of nervousness and stage fright. Difficult moments will occur in every tournament, says Kroos, even at this home EM. "It's crucial that everyone feels it's not so dramatic on the field."
He achieves this in an almost touching way. It requires someone who radiates: "Pay attention, if there's a problem, I'm here" or "If you have doubts about the ball, give it to me, it's okay." Someone like Toni Kroos, someone who has seen the world of football, experienced different situations, and can handle media hype. "If we end up with three players on the field from eleven who don't feel good, who havedoubts, who question the entire game, that won't work." It's fitting for his role: Kroos stays back and handles the creative build-up play, while the young wild ones should then entertain the audience. However, if there areproblems, Kroos is there.
It's like the experienced colleague at work who serves as a safety net or the dad who lets his children play. And it's fitting that Kroos was also asked about his youth - and he provides humor. The kids will also be in the stadium against Scotland. "They also expect a win," says Kroos, "but unfortunately, they're a bit spoiled." Because: "That means they haven't heard much about the national team in recent years." The spoiled youth from Real Madrid clearly expects that their dad will bring home the European Championship trophy. "Anything else will be hard to accept," says Kroos, and laughs at himself.
