As of: February 23, 2024, 8:12 a.m
By: Philipp Kessler
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Toni Kroos returns to the German national team.
European champion Hansi Müller is critical of the comeback, world champion Miroslav Klose is happy.
Munich – Kroos-like?!
On Thursday, what had been hinted at for weeks became official: Toni Kroos (34) is returning to the German national team ahead of the home European Championship.
The 2014 world champion announced this on Instagram on Thursday afternoon.
“Guys, short and painless: I will play for Germany again from March,” wrote Kroos, ending the guesswork surrounding his DFB comeback.
Almost three years after resignation: Kroos returns to the German national team
National coach Julian Nagelsmann (36), who, like Kroos, is supported by the Sports360 consulting agency, described the Mecklenburg native's return to the ZDF
sports studio
in December as an “interesting thought ,” thereby opening the door wide for speculation.
Now the Real Madrid midfielder explained his decision like this: “Because I was asked by the national coach, I’m keen and I’m sure that a lot more is possible with the team at the European Championships than most people believe!”
After 106 international matches, Kroos retired from the DFB in the summer of 2021 after the round of 16 exit against England at the European Championships and thus also missed the embarrassing preliminary round exit at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Now he is returning to the German national football team, which has fallen a long way - and is supposed to lead them to new heights at the EURO in his own country.
He should already be nominated for the upcoming international matches against runner-up world champions France in Lyon (March 23) and in Frankfurt against Holland (March 26).
Hansi Müller (r.), European champion in 1980, is critical of Toni Kroos' announced return to the national team.
© Press photo Baumann / Sven Simon / Imago
Klose is happy about Kroos' DFB comeback, Müller sees "a very sensitive issue"
“I’m really happy that Toni is making his comeback,” says Miroslav Klose (45) to
tz
.
Together the two became world champions in Brazil in 2014.
Hansi Müller (66), however, is not quite as euphoric.
“It is of course a bit of an indictment for the current midfielders that a player who has retired is now playing again,” said the 1980 European champion to the
tz
.
“I still think Toni Kroos is a great footballer.
He can also help the team.
But the comeback is a very explosive and sensitive topic.”
What Müller means: “The expectations for a player like that are incredibly high when he returns.
In the difficult situation that the national team is in, a lot of hopes are now being placed on him.
If things don’t work out for him – for whatever reason – then he’s the big loser.”
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Instead of Kroos: Hansi Müller would put all his hopes on another DFB star
Müller would put all his hopes on Leverkusen's offensive star Florian Wirtz (20): “For me he is the best German footballer at the moment.
The guy is a joy to watch.
He is a thoroughbred footballer before the Lord.
Someone like that would actually say: 'You're the big man - and I'm building a team around you that can play successful football that's worth watching.'
I can’t judge to what extent a Kroos fits in because I don’t know how Nagelsmann acts.”
Kroos is not deterred by the pressure of expectations and opinions of others.
Even his mother Birgit's advice didn't change his mind, as he revealed with a grin in his podcast
Simply Luppen
: "Of course she said I shouldn't do that.
Of course I have to apologize now.” Kross wants to help, “but I’m definitely not the savior.
Everyone can say goodbye to this straight away,” he emphasized.
He sees himself “as a cog that hopefully meshes with another, which then works.”
Will play for Germany again: Toni Kroos.
© Federico Gambarini/dpa
What happens to Kimmich after Kroos returns to the national team?
Another question that the return raises: What happens to Joshua Kimmich (29)?
It is likely that the midfielder will slide into the right-back position.
In addition to Kroos, Leverkusen's Robert Andrich (29) could provide physicality.
Either way – there is only one motto for Kroos: “Full speed ahead!”
(Philipp Kessler)