Real Madrid: Toni Kroos is thinking about returning to the DFB

After withdrawal in 2021

During his business trip to Leipzig, Toni Kroos inevitably came closer to a debate that has been bothering football Germany for weeks on the way to the home European Championship. Should the Real Madrid midfielder return to the national team – and does he even want to? National coach Julian Nagelsmann described the 34-year-old’s comeback in December in the “ZDF sports studio” as an “interesting thought”, thereby opening the door wide for speculation about Kroos. He leaves all options open – at the DFB and at Real. “I’m still thinking about it, I haven’t made a decision yet,” said Kroos and deflected questions about the DFB team skillfully and meaningfully: “There is a possibility.”

After 106 international matches, Kroos retired from the DFB in 2021. But even in the autumn of his career, the native of Greifswald is one of the pillars of the team at Real. “Toni is irreplaceable, even when he doesn’t play,” coach Carlo Ancelotti recently raved about the Mecklenburger. Before the Leipzig game, the star coach said: “He is always the best. He had already had the same accuracy of passing ten years ago at FC Bayern. What sets him apart now is that he plays in a team that plays with enormous energy, so his strengths come into their own even more.”

They also know this at the German Football Association. Kroos is “still a world-class player” who still shows that he is “capable of great things, of powerful things,” DFB sports director Rudi Völler just announced. And Kroos, at least Bild reported at the end of last year, could definitely imagine returning to the national team. Maybe already for the international matches in March in France and against the Netherlands? “Let yourself be surprised. We still have a bit of time,” said Coach Nagelsmann recently at the Nations League draw in Paris.

Real coach Carlo Ancelotti: Toni Kroos is unique

Midfield strategist Kroos doesn’t actually have to prove anything to anyone anymore. He is the only German player to have won the Champions League five times, four times with Real and once with FC Bayern Munich. The 2014 world champion is considered an icon by the Royals. Coach legend Ancelotti considers his precision, his calm, his control and his charisma to be “unique”.

Kroos is a haven of calm, an important point of orientation, especially for the young stars around Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo and Vinícius Júnior. He himself is even surprised: “My head surprises me more than my body.” And yet Kroos sometimes gives the impression that he doesn’t feel valued enough in Germany and is misunderstood as a “lateral Toni”. A successful European Championship mission as a helper in the sporting crisis could change that.

Uli Hoeneß: Kroos’ return would be a “Titanic signal”

But opinions differ on this question. “That would be quite a Titanic signal,” said Bayern patron Uli Hoeneß about a possible Kroos return. The veteran is “an outstanding footballer, but I don’t think he can save German football,” Hoeneß continued. Joti Chatzialexiou, the former DFB head of national teams, even spoke on “t-online” of a “declaration of poverty for German football”.

However, some national players in the team can imagine Kroos making a comeback. “I’m always happy to play with Toni. If he feels like it and has the time, he’s happy to do it,” explained Bayern professional Joshua Kimmich. Real colleague Antonio Rüdiger is probably the strongest supporter of a Kroos nomination. “And if I can speak so openly and honestly: I think many people think the same as me,” the 30-year-old told “Kicker” before the guest appearance in Leipzig. Despite all his admiration, ex-team boss Völler is not completely convinced of the need for Kroos to return. In midfield, the shoe “doesn’t press quite as hard”. The DFB selection has many good players.

Record national player Lothar Matthäus is also very skeptical. “Where should he play?” If you bring Kroos back, you automatically weaken Ilkay Gündogan, even as captain,” warned the 1990 World Cup captain. Kroos will not harmonize with either Gündogan or Kimmich in the center of the midfield. For Matthäus, “a clear no” is the answer to the Kroos question. But Julian Nagelsmann and Toni Kroos themselves have the final say.

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