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The 34-year-old Real Madrid midfielder could return to the national team for Die Mannschaft’s March internationals against France and the Netherlands.
Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos could be set for a return to the German national team, thus reversing his 2021 decision to retire from The Team.
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Toni Kroos reconsidering retirement
According to a report in The Athletic, the 34-year-old is set to announce his decision over the coming weeks before Julian Nagelsmann’s side take on France and the Netherlands in March’s international fixtures. Having quit international football days after Germany’s round of 16 defeat at the hands of England at Euro 2020, Kroos could now reverse that decision three years later, with Die Mannschaft hosting the European Championship this summer.
The player confirmed the speculation during a press conference ahead of the Champions League last-16 first leg between Leipzig and Real Madrid.
"Yes, it is a possibility. I'm thinking about it, but I don't know yet,” Kroos admitted earlier this month.
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Kroos' initial retirement decision
Kroos’ decision to retire from international football was driven by a desire to spend more time with his family and to ensure he could continue performing at the highest level with Los Blancos. Having achieved considerable success with the national team, including winning the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Kroos chose to step back after the European Championships in 2020 to focus on prolonging his career.
Contrary to rumours at the time, the Real Madrid man's call was not an upshot of the criticism received after Germany’s Euro 2020 exit, with Bayern Munich honorary president, Uli Hoeness, reprimanding the midfielder.
"I like Kroos a lot, he put in some world-class performances and was great at Bayern, but his style of play is outdated,” Hoeness said. "It should be said that Kroos doesn't fit in in the modern game with his horizontal passes.
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Lothar Matthaus, a World Cup winner with Germany in 1990, did not hold back, pointing to the Real Madrid player’s approach in possession.
"Kroos is no longer international class,” Matthaus told Kicker. "Personally, I have nothing against Toni Kroos, but I don't agree with the way he plays. "At the Euros, you saw that it's not just about the speed of the player, but also that of the ball.”
Nagelsmann’s squad selection ahead of France and Netherlands friendlies
Kroos could be named in Nagelsmann’s March 14 squad for tune-up games with Les Blues and the Dutch on March 23 and 26, respectively, certifying a return to international football. Conversely, potential exclusion points to the Real Madrid man not returning to Die Mannschaft.
Kroos' future with Real Madrid
Kroos’ current contract with Los Blancos expires in June 2024, and reports suggest the illustrious club are keen for the German to renew for another year. Carlo Ancelotti’s men are still fighting on multiple fronts, with a lead in LaLiga and progress in the Champions League expected after a positive result against RB Leipzig last week.
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