DFB return of Toni Kroos: Nagelsmann’s request “didn’t leave him indifferent”

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DFB return confirmed

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Toni Kroos justified his return to the German national team primarily with “very good conversations” with national coach Julian Nagelsmann. “Julian contacted me and asked me if I could imagine it, something that hadn’t been in my head until then,” said the 2014 world champion in his podcast “Just Luppen” with brother Felix. “The fact that the national coach calls and says that I am needed for the tournament in my own country is an incentive.” (For the news: Kroos confirms his return to the national team)

Kroos in the top 10: Most international matches for the German national team

24 Bernd Schneider – 81 international matches

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As of: January 2024

24 Karlheinz Förster – 81 international matches

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24 Wolfgang Overath – 81 international matches

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23 Arne Friedrich – 82 international matches

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22 Andreas Möller – 85 international matches

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20 Oliver Kahn – 86 international matches

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20 Andreas Brehme – 86 international matches

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19 Rudi Völler – 90 international matches

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18 Mesut Özil – 92 international matches

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16 Sepp Maier – 95 international matches

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16 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge – 95 international matches

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15 Berti Vogts – 96 international matches

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14 Michael Ballack – 98 international matches

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13 Thomas Häßler – 101 international matches

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12 Franz Beckenbauer – 103 international matches

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11 Per Mertesacker – 104 international matches

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10 Jürgen Kohler – 105 international matches

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9 Toni Kroos – 106 international matches

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8 Jürgen Klinsmann – 108 international matches

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7 Philipp Lahm – 113 international matches

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6 Manuel Neuer – 117 international matches

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5 Bastian Schweinsteiger – 121 international matches

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4 Thomas Müller – 124 international matches

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3 Lukas Podolski – 130 caps

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2 Miroslav Klose – 137 caps

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1 Lothar Matthäus – 150 international matches

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Such a request “doesn’t leave him indifferent” and is also “a great confirmation” of his current performance at Real Madrid. The 34-year-old explained that with each subsequent conversation with the national coach, he “became more and more pregnant” with the idea, “with the result of being available for this tournament.” Kroos spoke of a “significant decision” for him, in which he and Nagelsmann in particular had to come to a “common denominator”: “So you have to have the feeling that it fits and that something can come of it. Otherwise you can’t do it.”

After more than two and a half years of international break, he also feels physically ready for a comeback: “Full speed ahead.” However, Kroos warned against setting too high expectations. “Of course I want to help. But I’m definitely not the savior either. Everyone can say goodbye to that straight away,” said the midfielder, who resigned from the DFB team after the 2021 European Championship after 106 international matches: “You shouldn’t think that this trick will make us favorites. That’s nonsense.”

But he wants to be “a cog that hopefully meshes with another, which then works.” With a view to the home European Championships next summer, he is “very, very happy” with his decision, which he announced on his Instagram account on Thursday. He will play for the national team again in the international matches in France and against the Netherlands in March.

World champions 2014: The German squad according to market values ​​at the time

23 Miroslav Klose | Club at that time & market value: Lazio – €1 million

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22 Roman Weidenfeller | Club & market value at the time: BVB – €5 million

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21 Erik Durm | Club & market value at the time: BVB – €6 million

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20 Shkodran Mustafi | Club at that time & market value: Sampdoria – €7 million

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19 Christoph Kramer | Club at that time & market value: M’gladbach – €8 million

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18 Ron-Robert Zieler | Club & market value at the time: Hannover 96 – €9.5 million

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17 Kevin Grosskreutz | Club & market value at the time: BVB – €10 million

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16 Matthias Ginter | Club & market value at the time: SC Freiburg – €12 million

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15 Benedikt Höwedes | Club & market value at the time: Schalke – €16 million

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14 Per Mertesacker | Club at that time & market value: Arsenal FC – €18 million

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13 André Schürrle | Club at the time & market value: Chelsea FC – €20 million

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12 Sami Khedira | Club at that time & market value: Real Madrid – €22 million

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11 Lukas Podolski | Club at the time & market value: Arsenal FC – €23 million

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10 Jérôme Boateng | Club at that time & market value: FC Bayern – €28 million

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8 Philipp Lahm | Club at that time & market value: FC Bayern – €30 million

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8 Julian Draxler | Club at that time & market value: Schalke – €30 million

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6 Mats Hummels | Club & market value at the time: BVB – €35 million

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6 Bastian Schweinsteiger | Club & market value at the time: FC Bayern – €35 million

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5 Manuel Neuer | Club at that time & market value: FC Bayern – €40 million

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4 Toni Kroos | Club at that time & market value: FC Bayern – €42 million

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3 Mario Götze | Club at that time & market value: FC Bayern – €48 million

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1 Thomas Müller | Club at that time & market value: FC Bayern – €50 million

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1 Mesut Özil | Club at that time & market value: Arsenal FC – €50 million

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