How the national team could benefit from a Kroos return

National coach Julian Nagelsmann described Toni Kroos’ return to the national team as an “interesting thought”. It might be worth thinking about.

It started with Antonio Rüdiger. A few days ago, Rüdiger, 30, stood in front of a “DAZN” camera and talked about wishes. He wasn’t talking about Christmas, he was talking about Toni Kroos. Both played together in the national team for many years, then Kroos resigned. That was two and a half years ago. Now they only play together at Real Madrid. That wasn’t enough for Rüdiger. He said he would like Kroos to return to the DFB team. “I ask him every day.”

It then turned out that Kroos, 33, also gave the broadcaster a short interview around Real Madrid’s Champions League game against 1. FC Union Berlin. Kroos said he hadn’t previously thought about a possible return to the national team, then Rüdiger approached him. He first thought about it and then gave an answer. Kroos just didn’t want to reveal what he had said to Rüdiger.

Nagelsmann about Kroos: “I might call him again”

Since then there has been a lot of discussion about Toni Kroos and the national team. The appearance of national coach Julian Nagelsmann, 36, in the “ZDF-Sportstudio” also contributed to this. Nagelsmann spoke about tactics that could be more defensive in the future. About Joshua Kimmich, who might prefer to defend on the right. About Ilkay Gündogan, whom Nagelsmann no longer wants to use as a six, but more offensively. And Nagelsmann also spoke about Kroos.

When asked about a possible comeback for Kroos, Nagelsmann said it was “an interesting thought”. But they haven’t talked about it yet. He said: “I may call him again.”

Nagelsmann has a problem. Kroos could be part of the solution

The national coach values ​​the opinion of football strategist Kroos and they sometimes exchange ideas. Also about the national team. Nagelsmann and Kroos not only share a view of football, they are also advised by the same agency.

It wouldn’t be a big surprise if national coach Nagelsmann actually chose Kroos’ number soon. If it were about the national team – and about the role that Kroos could play at the European Championships in Germany next summer.

The national team last lost friendlies against Turkey and Austria in November, and there were a few reasons for this. One reason was the filling of the two positions in defensive midfield. Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka played alongside captain Ilkay Gündogan once. They are great footballers, but their interaction was not harmonious. Ideas in the build-up and stability when the opponent has the ball is something that has not been seen in the German national team in the “six” for a long time.

Nagelsmann has not yet found the ideal fit for what is perhaps the most important position. This is a problem for the national coach. He could solve it with the return of Kroos.

A look at Madrid could be worthwhile

If Nagelsmann actually moves Kimmich to the right and Gündogan a position forward, then that could prove to be a clever move. Kimmich may not like playing right-back, but he can do it. He has proven that many times. Nagelsmann is also looking for an ideal solution in this position. And Gündogan can also do it more offensively, he showed that at Manchester City when he scored 13 goals in the Premier League alone in the 2020/21 season.

There would then be room for Kroos in the defensive midfield. He is a master of the passing game. He rarely passes the ball to the opponent, but recently he has played it surprisingly often through opposing defensive lines. With his experience and understanding of the game, he could positively change the statics of the German game.

Of course, Kroos is not a classic six, not a “holding six” that has been talked about a lot recently. He’s also not one of those “defensive monsters” that Nagelsmann has sorely missed recently. Kroos would need a player like that at his side who thinks first about his own protection. Candidates for this could be Emre Can or Robert Andrich.

Of course, Can and Andrich do not have the individual class that the Brazilian Casemiro had, who successfully protected Kroos at Real Madrid for many years. They are also not as strong as Frenchman Aurélien Tchouaméni, who often played that role after Casemiro’s move. But the German midfield would probably be more stable with them.

The future only begins after the European Championships

Should Kroos return, he would certainly not do so as a substitute. Captain Gündogan is unlikely to be considered for this role either. Florian Wirtz, 20, or Jamal Musiala, 20, could then lose their place in the starting eleven for the European Championship. Nagelsmann does not have any more talented footballers at his disposal. They represent the future of German football, but they might have to wait a few more months.

Most recently, Nagelsmann has already brought Thomas Müller, 34, and Mats Hummels, 35, back into the national team. Manuel Neuer, 37, is likely to follow in the international matches against France and the Netherlands in March. And maybe Kroos too. Together they have enjoyed great success, the greatest being when they became world champions in 2014. That was a long time ago, Müller, Hummels, Neuer and Kroos do not represent the future of the German national team.

National coach Nagelsmann’s contract only runs until the end of the European Championship. But that’s not why he’s postponing the future until after the tournament. The problems in the present are simply too big.