MADRID, 21 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The German midfielder Toni Kroos is being one of the key pieces of Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany at this start of the Euro Cup, in which they have managed to add two victories in the first two games based on a game based on control and possession of ball in which the midfielder shines with his own light.
Two wins in two games might seem logical for the host, but nothing could be further from the truth. When Toni Kroos announced his return to the German team, back in February, Germany was immersed in a crisis of results.
The ‘Mannschaft’ had had two consecutive defeats and three games in a row without winning, all of them against, a priori, lower-level teams such as Austria (2-0), Turkey (2-3) and Mexico (2-2).
Bad results that only accentuated their poor role in the last final phases of major tournaments, which led to premature eliminations in the first phase of the World Cup in Qatar and Russia, as well as in the round of 16 of the Euro 2020. However , the inertia seems to have changed in this European Championship, in which, with one day left, they have already achieved the pass to the crossroads, leaving very good feelings.
Some results and good play that have Toni Kroos as the main protagonist. Since the six-time Champions champion has worn the Germany shirt again, the Germans have not lost a single match, achieving five victories – France, the Netherlands, Greece, Scotland and Hungary – and one draw before Ukraine. Thus, Kroos’ return to the national team has meant that Nagelsmann has gone from 25% wins and two losses without the midfielder to 83% wins and no losses with him on the pitch.
A dependence on Kroos that, beyond results, is manifested in the game model. With the midfielder, the style of the German team is much more dominant through possession and with a greater ability to find spaces against very withdrawn defenses. Of course, Germany’s level of passing success has increased, making them a team that makes fewer mistakes and concedes fewer counterattacks to the opponent.
In individual terms, Toni Kroos, who will retire at the end of the tournament, is shining. Germany’s ‘8’ has started in the first two EURO games, resting only 10 of the 180 minutes played. He has played 170 minutes in which he is the player on his team who has attempted the most passes (233) and completed (226), having a success rate of 97%. In addition, he has made 14 crosses and created five chances.
Kroos’ return to the ‘Mannschaft’ has also brought greater tactical variants to Nagelsmann, since it has allowed Ilkay Gündogan to ignore the creation of the game, having a position much closer to the area, where he can show off his last pass and definition –a goal and an assist in the EURO–. Furthermore, Kroos allows a much more positional and defensive midfielder like Andrich to free himself from creation, one of Leverkusen’s weak points.
In short, Kroos, beyond once again proving that he is one of the best midfielders in the world, has given a facelift to a Germany that was wandering after the World Cup in Qatar and that is now among the great favorites and the teams that best They practice football in ‘their’ Euro Cup.
2024-06-21 09:35:50
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