Too few German top players
© Imago
Ex-world champion Toni Kroos has not yet given up hope for a successful World Cup from the German national team despite the recently poor appearances against Slovakia and Northern Ireland. “It is like this that you are currently miles away from talking about the world championship title. But: It was not this summer, but only next summer. Stand now we are miles away and really not good, but in summer, let the right players get fit …” said the 35-year-old in the podcast “Just Luppe” with his brother Felix.
The reason for his optimism is his experience with Real Madrid. In September and October, he often heard that the club was not a favorite for the Champions League this year. “It often looked different in May,” said Kroos, who won the premier class six times, five times with Real.
Kroos sees too few international top players for the national team
Nevertheless, the former midfield star, who ended his career in the summer of 2024 after the home European Championship, also criticized the national team. You could currently not choose from a pot with 50 top international players, he judged. “If we go a step higher over international class, it will be very tight. The games they now had in front of the chest should still be enough,” said Kroos.
At the start of the qualification for the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico in the coming year, the selection of national coach Julian Nagelsmann had lost 0-2 in Slovakia and painstakingly won 3-1 against Northern Ireland. Among other things, the offensive forces Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz were missing due to injuries. Third opponent in Group A is Luxembourg.
Missing the World Cup qualification is impossible for Kroos
Self -confidence is missing and therefore self -image, which inhibited everything seems inhibited, said Kroos. “I am on the side – and maybe it may hurt a bit more – that we are not so easy to play against such opponents at the moment. Croos is still convinced of the qualification for the World Cup. “The great luck is that we have received a group in which you can’t even leave.”
The most valuable German players are currently by far Musiala and Florian Wirtz with a market value of 140 million euros each – after a huge gap, Havertz follows 65 million euros. Including Bayern Youngster Aleksandar Pavlovic (55 million) there are only four German players who are estimated at at least 50 million euros. 15 German professionals reach the 30 million mark. For comparison: With French or Spanish nationality, 34 players with at least 30 million euros in the market value. There are even 41 footballers in England.