Toni Kroos has found happiness at Real Madrid. But his successful career could come to an end against Spain.
Toni Kroos stepped onto the podium in flip-flops, but he pushed the thought of vacation and free time far away from his mind. “I don’t think it’s my last game,” Kroos said before the German national team’s cracker against his adopted home of Spain. Therefore, he is “not nostalgic at all.”
And yet the European Championship quarter-finals on Friday (6:00 p.m./ARD and MagentaTV) in Stuttgart could mark the end of a great career. Kroos admitted on Wednesday at the DFB headquarters in Herzogenaurach that he was well aware of that. But he did not feel afraid, even if there would never be anything “that I can do as well as playing football”.
The royal passing machine wants to prove this once again in the match against his adopted home. The only thing missing from the “handle god’s” unique collection of titles is the Henri Delaunay Cup. It would be the 35th title for the 34-year-old.
His surprising return to the national team was always linked to the plan of “becoming European champion”. This title would have “huge significance” for him. But he would also not be “devastated if it doesn’t work out” and his 114th international match would be his last.
His Madrid teammate Joselu wants to send Kroos into retirement on Friday. “I can understand that that’s his idea,” Kroos replied with a smile. But that won’t happen, “because we’re winning.”
Home European Championship can no longer be a “catastrophe”
The 2014 World Champion, who speaks fluent Spanish, has brought this new confidence back to the DFB team. “Before,” emphasised Leroy Sane, “we weren’t as stable. That was a big weakness of ours. He took that weakness away from us.”
Kroos is expected to bring his strengths to the table against Spain, set the pace like a metronome and vary the rhythm in midfield. Such games are “decided in the middle,” said Kroos: “Whoever wins the duels there and controls the game has a better chance of winning the game.”
Kroos will face Rodri, who is six years younger than him, in the middle. For years, Rodri was in the shadow of Sergio Busquets, but now he sets the pace at Manchester City and in the national team. Rodri wins the ball and distributes it. “He radiates absolute calm and is not at all prone to making mistakes,” praised Kroos. This sentence could also have been said the other way round.
Unlike Rodri, Kroos has already planned for his free time after the European Championships. He is “really looking forward to this phase”. He will be taking care of his three children Leon, Amelie and Fin – and of other people in the “Toni Kroos Academy” in Madrid.
But that is a long way off. For now, he wants to delay the “last hurrah” a little longer. Although Spain would be a fitting farewell. Kroos has found happiness in Madrid since 2014. When he was still being disparagingly referred to as “cross-pass Toni” in Germany, he was already receiving the appreciation he deserved from the Royal Club.
“Some are faster, others need a little longer. But in the end, everyone understands it,” said Kroos – and shuffled off the podium in flip-flops.
2024-07-03 13:02:00
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