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
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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