DFB.de regularly preview a Germany international with a big game ahead of them. Today, it’s the turn of Toni Kroos, who is set to play a key role tonight as he and Real Madrid face off against DFB team colleague and AS Roma defender Antonio Rüdiger.
New year, new luck. This seems to be the case particularly for Toni Kroos. On the 4th January, Zidane took over from Rafael Benitez as Real Madrid manager, and whilst under Rafa, Kroos had to fight for his place in the starting XI, he is now the first name on the team sheet in central midfield. Last weekend in fact, he scored his first goal of the season in their 4-2 win over Athletic Bilbao.
Zidane: "Toni is exactly the kind of player we have been lacking.”
"Toni is exactly the kind of player we have been lacking," said Zidane last Autumn. "He is perfect for Real, we love him," the European champion from 2000 added, before suggesting that Kroos could beckon in a new era at Real Madrid. The Greifswalder-born player returned the kind words: "You can see a real difference in how we play now," he said recently on the new coach’s ideas.
Kroos: "Heynckes was my most important coach"
It still remains to be seen whether Zidane will become as important a coach to Kroos as Jupp Heynckes. In an interview with ZEIT, Kroos called Heynckes, whom he played under on loan at Bayer Leverkusen and as a player at FC Bayern, "my most important coach."
Under Heynckes, Kroos celebrated the triple in 2013, winning the league, the DFB Cup and the Champions League. The World Coach of the Year 2015 saw Kroos as part of the "core of the team," before going on to say: "rarely before have I seen a footballer with that level of passing accuracy, and that kind of precision in his game."
Löw compliments Kroos
Joachim Löw holds Toni Kroos in an equally high regard, and called him up to the Germany men’s team for the first time in 2010. His status as a filling-in player quickly became a thing of the past, and since 2012 he has been a crucial part of the Germany setup, alongside the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger.
The next goal: Champions League triumph with Real
In the last three years, Kroos has won almost everything there is to win, both with FC Bayern and Germany. At Real Madrid, the 26-year-old has only won the UEFA Supercup and the Club World Cup. The focus is firmly on Champions League triumph this season too, as they are out of the Copa del Rey and are third place in the league behind Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
Their next challenge comes in the form of AS Roma, who go into the tie as clear underdogs. Kroos remains cautious: "We have to play in Italy as well as do at home, the games against Roma are particularly important."
They will walk out at the Stadio Olimpico tonight at 20:45 CET, and Kroos will come up against his fellow DFB team player, Antonio Rüdiger. 22-year-old Rüdiger may not start for Roma, as the competition for a place in their defence is fierce, and may have to exchange pleasantries with Kroos after the game. Toni on the other hand will have no such worries, and will be looking to help Real Madrid make a real statement of intent in Europe.
DFB.de regularly preview a Germany international with a big game ahead of them. Today, it’s the turn of Toni Kroos, who is set to play a key role tonight as he and Real Madrid face off against DFB team colleague and AS Roma defender Antonio Rüdiger.
New year, new luck. This seems to be the case particularly for Toni Kroos. On the 4th January, Zidane took over from Rafael Benitez as Real Madrid manager, and whilst under Rafa, Kroos had to fight for his place in the starting XI, he is now the first name on the team sheet in central midfield. Last weekend in fact, he scored his first goal of the season in their 4-2 win over Athletic Bilbao.
Zidane: "Toni is exactly the kind of player we have been lacking.”
"Toni is exactly the kind of player we have been lacking," said Zidane last Autumn. "He is perfect for Real, we love him," the European champion from 2000 added, before suggesting that Kroos could beckon in a new era at Real Madrid. The Greifswalder-born player returned the kind words: "You can see a real difference in how we play now," he said recently on the new coach’s ideas.
Kroos: "Heynckes was my most important coach"
It still remains to be seen whether Zidane will become as important a coach to Kroos as Jupp Heynckes. In an interview with ZEIT, Kroos called Heynckes, whom he played under on loan at Bayer Leverkusen and as a player at FC Bayern, "my most important coach."
Under Heynckes, Kroos celebrated the triple in 2013, winning the league, the DFB Cup and the Champions League. The World Coach of the Year 2015 saw Kroos as part of the "core of the team," before going on to say: "rarely before have I seen a footballer with that level of passing accuracy, and that kind of precision in his game."
Löw compliments Kroos
Joachim Löw holds Toni Kroos in an equally high regard, and called him up to the Germany men’s team for the first time in 2010. His status as a filling-in player quickly became a thing of the past, and since 2012 he has been a crucial part of the Germany setup, alongside the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger.
The next goal: Champions League triumph with Real
In the last three years, Kroos has won almost everything there is to win, both with FC Bayern and Germany. At Real Madrid, the 26-year-old has only won the UEFA Supercup and the Club World Cup. The focus is firmly on Champions League triumph this season too, as they are out of the Copa del Rey and are third place in the league behind Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
Their next challenge comes in the form of AS Roma, who go into the tie as clear underdogs. Kroos remains cautious: "We have to play in Italy as well as do at home, the games against Roma are particularly important."
They will walk out at the Stadio Olimpico tonight at 20:45 CET, and Kroos will come up against his fellow DFB team player, Antonio Rüdiger. 22-year-old Rüdiger may not start for Roma, as the competition for a place in their defence is fierce, and may have to exchange pleasantries with Kroos after the game. Toni on the other hand will have no such worries, and will be looking to help Real Madrid make a real statement of intent in Europe.
