Rummenigge clear

Kroos? “The need for a man seems to be great”

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (right) has commented on Toni Kroos' return to the DFB.(Bild: APA/AFP/POOL/Frank Augstein, GEPA Pictures)

Toni Kroos is back in the Germany jersey! Ex-Bayern boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has clear words about his comeback. "The need for a man seems to be great in the national team (...)."

He played his last game for the DFB squad in 2021 in the 2-0 defeat to England in the European Championship round of 16 on June 29. Now he returns as a "leader".

Among the critics during Kroos' time at FC Bayern (2007 - 2014) was the then boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who apparently still has no positive words for the 34-year-old. "The need for a man seems to be great in the national team (...). But that's for the coach to decide and if he makes that decision, then I hope it works out," said Rummenigge on the sidelines of the opening of the special Sepp Maier exhibition in Munich's Allianz Arena.

"Three tournaments in the sand"
However, success comes first. "At the end of the day, everyone in Germany wants us to finally play a decent, successful tournament again, because we've now lost three tournaments in a row."

Kroos already has 106 caps under his belt. With his experience and performances, Germany want to build on their old successes. On 23 March, Germany will play France, and three days later the Nagelsmann team will face another tough test against the Netherlands.