Real Madrid forward says he ‘hopes’ to retire Toni Kroos on Friday, German midfielder replies

Real Madrid’s midfield maestro, Toni Kroos, has announced his decision to retire from professional football following the conclusion of the upcoming European Championship. This revelation has set the stage for an emotional tournament, with the knockout rounds marking the potential end of an illustrious career.

Germany faced Denmark in their round of 16 clash, triumphing with an overwhelming 2-9 scoreline. This victory has secured their place in the quarterfinals, where they will meet Spain, a formidable opponent.

In a press conference held on Wednesday afternoon, Kroos’ Real Madrid teammate, Spanish striker Joselu, made a bold statement. “Let’s hope to retire Kroos on Friday,” he declared, adding an extra layer of tension to the highly anticipated match.

Minutes later, Kroos responded to Joselu’s comment in his own press conference. “He said it because he wants to win. I understand that his idea is that he wants Spain to qualify for the semi-finals, but I think Germany has a lot of things to prevent Spain from qualifying. It will be an exciting match,” Kroos remarked, exuding confidence and determination.

He also added: ” I will do everything I can to prevent that from happening. They are here to win, we are here to win. We will see what happens on Friday. I know him so I know how he meant it. The most important thing is that they did not want me to stop in Madrid. They are my friends.”

Kroos also made it clear that he does not think Friday will be his last game, when asked if this would be his last ever press conference: “I will miss this less than playing football, that’s for sure. I’m not nostalgic at all. I don’t expect Friday to be my last game, so I assume we’ll all see each other again.”

Throwing more light on his retirement and whether he thinks about it, the 34-year-old said: “Of course it goes through your head, but it doesn’t bother me, it’s a motivation to think that it’s not the last game. I experienced that in the round of 16 against Denmark, but it didn’t worry me. It’s a motivation to hold out as long as possible. It was my decision, I know the situation and I can handle it. I want to hold out until the end and I’ll be happy without football, but I hope I can hold out a bit longer.”

Every game holds the possibility of being Kroos’ final appearance on the pitch. Fans and players alike will be watching closely, knowing that each match could mark the end of an era for one of football’s greatest midfielders. The upcoming Germany vs. Spain quarterfinal promises to be a thrilling encounter, with both sides eager to advance and Kroos determined to extend his farewell tour just a bit longer.