Nagelsmann explains his plan
DFB returnee Kroos will “fit into the team perfectly”
February 23, 2024, 9:34 a.m
Open arms and lots of joy is how national coach Julian Nagelsmann expects the reaction when Toni Kroos joins the DFB team again in March. He discusses the comeback with a few players beforehand. Also with someone who is directly affected: Joshua Kimmich.
National coach Julian Nagelsmann sees returnee Toni Kroos as an ideal reinforcement for the German national team. “He will fit perfectly into the team we have in mind as a liaison player in midfield,” Nagelsmann told “Spiegel”: “He will be good for us with his experience and routine. Kroos has a special role at his club Real Madrid, he guides young players and shows them how they can function well together.”
Kroos is a professional “who will remain calm even in a tight European Championship game and who you can always play under pressure,” added Nagelsmann. In the past few weeks he has had “good and intensive discussions” with the 34-year-old, who has already taken part in the international matches in Lyon against France on March 23rd and three days later in Frankfurt against them Netherlands will return.
“Toni has a very clear view of the state of our national team,” said Nagelsmann: “With each subsequent conversation, I felt that he was increasingly enthusiastic about being part of the home European Championships despite his actual resignation and to support us.”
Consequences for Kimmich
Nagelsmann rules out the possibility that Kroos’ comeback could pose a threat to the hierarchy. “I spoke to a lot of players on the phone in advance and listened carefully to see if anyone could have a problem with Kroos,” said the national coach: “On the contrary! Everyone was very positive.” This also applies to Joshua Kimmich, who is intended for the right-back position in the future. “Incidentally, he would have also played at right back if Kroos had not returned,” said Nagelsmann. Every player has to subordinate himself and be “a servant for his country. Kimmich is that.”
Nagelsmann also emphasizes not to shy away from unpopular measures. “There will definitely be one or two people who won’t be nominated who many people think will definitely be there.” The 36-year-old wants to keep the game idea as simple as possible and encourage his team to defend “passionately”. “We will have more players in the squad like Pascal Groß, who sometimes throw themselves in for others and who are less concerned with shining with a great pass,” he said and announced that they would rely on “mentality”. .
He recommended that football Germany lower its high standards a little. “We have to stop thinking about status. We tell ourselves that Germany is a top football nation, even though we have been experiencing failures for years. That’s not how we get back on the road to success. We have to finally start working on football again.”
Nagelsmann also warned against overloading the tournament (June 14th to July 14th) with politics. “I would like the team to be kept out of all debates,” he said. Everything else “usually affects the performance” – as was the case at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.