Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has announced that he is “in the mood” to come out of international retirement and represent Germany at Euro 2024.
The 34-year-old stepped away from international duty after Euro 2020 when Die Mannschaft were knocked out by England in the quarter-finals.
Kroos’s reasoning behind his decision to retire was so that he could spent more time with his family and to prolong his club career with Carlo Ancelotti’s Los Blancos side.
However, the experienced midfielder admitted at the end of last month that he was reconsidering his international retirement ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League last-16 first-leg tie against RB Leipzig.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference about the prospect of returning to the national team set-up, Kroos said “Yes, it is a possibility. I’m thinking about it, but I don’t know yet.”
Now, Kroos has revealed that he has been asked by new Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann to return to the senior fold ahead of this summer’s tournament on home soil.
The 2014 World Cup winner has confirmed that he will link up with the Germany squad during March’s international break for friendlies away against France and at home to the Netherlands in Frankfurt.
Kroos, a 106-cap international who was named German Footballer of the Year in 2018, took to Instagram to announce his return and has expressed his excitement for this summer’s Euros.
“People, short and painless: I will play for Germany again in March,” said Kroos. “Why? Because I was asked by the federal coach, I’m in the mood and I’m sure that with the team at the European Championship, much more is possible than most believe right now!”
Nagelsmann replaced Hansi Flick as Germany boss in September last year following a run of just four wins in 17 matches across all competitions.
Die Mannschaft, who have slipped to 16th in the FIFA world rankings, have struggled at recent major tournaments, crashing out at the group stage in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
There is plenty of pressure mounting on Germany to perform when they host Euro 2024, and they will be joined by Scotland, Hungary and Switzerland in Group A, with the tournament scheduled to begin on June 14.
