Spain’s Joselu hopes that his team will “retire” ex-Real Madrid teammate Toni Kroos in Friday’s Euro 2024 quarter-final with Germany.
Spain forward Joselu is hopeful that his team will “retire” his former Real Madrid teammate Toni Kroos in Friday’s Euro 2024 quarter-final with Germany.
Kroos announced towards the end of last season that he would be retiring from professional football this summer, and the 34-year-old ended his Real Madrid career by helping Los Blancos win yet another Champions League.
The midfielder is currently in action for Germany at the European Championship, but his time as a professional footballer will come to an end once the national side have been eliminated.
Joselu, who played alongside Kroos at Real Madrid in 2023-24, said that Spain will be aiming to make Friday’s Euro 2024 quarter-final the experienced midfielder’s “last game”.
“We hope it is his last game. It is a game that is not special because of him being here. It is a quarter-final against a great team,” the now Al Gharafa striker told reporters.
© Reuters
Joselu hopeful Spain will “retire” Kroos on Friday
“We hope to retire Toni on Friday. He’s been a friend to me. I have spoken with him a lot and he has advised me a lot. He is fundamental for Germany and he has been for Real Madrid. We have to be careful with him on Friday,” Joselu told reporters ahead of Spain’s last-eight clash with the tournament hosts.
“We know the conditions that Toni has. I think he is a fundamental player, but we cannot focus only on him. The ball goes through him every time Germany has possession… and Toni is a player who represents everything for them. We will have to have a special eye on him so that Germany do not enjoy the game.
“It is very important to win to qualify. About Toni, we have to believe in ourselves. We don’t care about the other team’s players. I think Friday will be Toni’s last game.”
Spain have arguably been the best team at Euro 2024, with La Roja posting four straight wins at the competition against Croatia, Italy, Albania and Georgia.
© Reuters
Spain have been impressive at Euro 2024
Luis de la Fuente‘s side breezed through the group stage of the tournament, beating Croatia, Italy and Albania without conceding a single goal.
Spain fell 1-0 behind to Georgia in their last-16 contest, but they went on to score four times without reply to secure their spot in the final eight of the competition.
Should they manage to beat Germany, La Roja would face either Portugal or France in the semi-finals, with the national side chasing their fourth European Championship crown.
Spain were champions in 1964, before landing back-to-back European Championship titles in 2008 and 2012.
Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams have been two of the outstanding players at Euro 2024, with the pair huge contributors to the team’s success.
No Data Analysis info