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Euro 2024: Toni Kroos Announces Germany Return
World Cup winner Toni Kroos announced his return to the German national team on Thursday ahead of Euro 2024 on home soil.
Kroos, 34, will be eligible for selection in the upcoming March international friendlies against France and the Netherlands.
“Hey folks, short and sweet, I’ll be playing for Germany again from March,” Kroos said in an Instagram post.
“Why? Because I was asked by the coach, and I’m up for it.
“I’m sure that much more is possible with the team at the European Championship than most people think right now.”
The midfielder from Real Madrid, who has represented Germany 106 times, retired from international duty following their elimination in the Euro 2020 last-16 match against England. The four-time world champions have faced difficulties lately, exiting the group stage in the last two World Cups.
Since the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Germany has only won three out of 11 matches, resulting in the dismissal of Hansi Flick as the first coach of Germany to be sacked.
Julian Nagelsmann, his successor with a contract until the end of Euro 2024, has won just one out of four games since taking charge, suffering losses against Turkey and Austria.
Despite an injury crisis in La Liga, Kroos has only missed two out of 32 matches for Real Madrid this season in both La Liga and the Champions League.
“His pass rate is the same as 10 years ago. He’s always top class,” Real Madrid coach, Carlo Ancelotti said of Kroos earlier this month.
Toni Kroos had mentioned during the press conference that he had not yet made a decision regarding a potential return to international football, humorously suggesting that the decision was so challenging that he preferred someone else to make it for him.
Julian Nagelsmann had previously commented that the idea of Kroos making a comeback was intriguing.
Sportxparte understands that Germany is scheduled to play a friendly match against France in Lyon on March 23, followed by hosting the Netherlands in Frankfurt four days later.
Kroos would likely be a valuable addition to the German midfield, which consists of young talents like Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, both aged 20.
The tournament will kick off for the hosts with a match against Scotland in Munich on June 14, followed by games against Hungary in Stuttgart on June 19 and Switzerland in Frankfurt on June 23 in Group A.
