In a major development, the former FIFA World Cup winner and Real Madrid star Toni Kroos on Thursday (Feb 22), announced his return to the German national side after announcing his retirement from international football in 2021. Kroos, who was one of the biggest names in the World Cup-winning squad of Germany in 2014 has 106 caps for the national side,. He waved goodbye to the national side after England knocked them out of the Euro 2020 (held in 2021).
Kroos to help Germany in Euro 2024
“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 post further read.
A serial winner with Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, Kroos returns to the side at 34 and will be an important member of the squad when Germany hosts the Euros in June and July. Die Mannschaft alongside England, Spain, France and Italy will be the favourites to win the tournament which starts on 14 June.
Kroos’ first game for Germany will come against 2022 FIFA World Cup runners-up France before taking on the Netherlands in friendlies in March. His competitive game for Germany will come against Scotland when the hosts will take the field at Allianz Arena, Kroos’ home during his Bayern Munich days.
The German star’s experience will be a key addition to the side as the national team has struggled to lay a marker in recent tournaments. Germany have been eliminated in the group stage of the last two FIFA World Cups while they faced elimination in the R16 of the Euro 2020. They narrowly avoided relegation in the Nations League while defeats against Japan in the World Cup and a friendly saw Hansi Flick lose his job at the top helm.
However, with Kroos’ addition, Germany will look to regain the lost glory and will target their first European Championship since 1996.