DFB.de regularly presents one of the players from the national team ahead of an exciting weekend for the player. Today it’s the turn of Real Madrid playmaker Toni Kroos, who is preparing for his first El Clasico.
Kroos’ first touches as a Real Madrid player weren’t what Real bought him to the club for. Real thought that they would be the perfect fit for the world champion with his shooting technique, his precision and movement.
But that’s not what they got! Kroos’ first touch at Real was a pointless clearance, as were his second and third touches. Kroos then hoofs the ball into row Z for no apparent reason. His fourth touch is a pass that doesn’t find a teammate. Kroos hasn’t been brought to the Spanish capital for his rusticality, but rather for his virtuosity. Kroos receives a hug ovation, but it’s not because of his poor touches. It’s because the fans were attending his unveiling in July 2014, after Kroos had become a world champion only four days earlier. He did what every other player does at their unveiling: hits balls into the crowd and celebrates every shot.
From giant to another giant
Shortly before, he said his first words as a Madrid player: how it felt to be a newcomer at Real Madrid, how happy he was, how proud he was, how thankful he was etc. So far, so good. But there was a difference to many of his predecessors. Many stories are told after making the move to Real Madrid and they contain this message: finally the chance to play in big games, finally the chance to play with some of the greats. Toni Kroos’ story will be told differently.
He had already played in big games, he had already played for big teams and with big players. He arrived as a world champion, he came from FC Bayern and Kroos was not shocked by the magnitude of Real. Instead he said this: “We’re talking about two of the biggest clubs in the world.” And this: “I know how it feels to play in a team that has a lot of quality. It’s only the names that are different at Real Madrid.” And finally: “I am lucky to have been able to join this club where the demands are just as high. Therefore, I won’t really have to adjust my game.”
First El Clasico with a lot of black, red and gold
But is not that bad for a player with the skills, the capabilities and the confidence that Toni Kroos possesses. On Saturday, he’ll play in a game that’s new to him. Kroos has already played in the German “El Clasico” between Bayern and Dortmund, but he now gets to play in the real thing. Real Madrid face FC Barcelona at 18:00 CEST in a fixture that is seen as the ultimate football match in the world.
“I noticed that it was a big game when I was in Germany,” said Kroos, who will now get to play in it for the first time. The clubs have played each other 260 times, with Barcelona winning on 108 occasions, whilst Real have won 95 and 57 have ended in draws. In 2014, the game has something distinct about it: there’ll be more black, red and gold than ever before. In the 80s, the games between Real and Barca saw Bernd Schuster and Uli Stielike play against each other and this time Kroos will be joined by world champion Sami Khedira on the side of the hosts, whilst Germany under-21 goalkeeper Marc André ter Stegen will line-up for the visitors. There’s never been a trio of German players in an El Clasico before.
Kroos will remain focused on the game. On the pitch, Kroos has shown in his first ten weeks that he is exactly what Real paid for. He is an integral part of Carlo Ancelotti’s team and is a player who will be vital in the big games. In the important Champions League clash with Liverpool in midweek, that Real won 3-0, he shone under the floodlights as a playmaker, a crosser of the ball and as a passing machine.
Praise from his predecessors
His number of admirers is growing day by day, even his predecessor has revealed that he is a Kroos fan. Spaniard Xabi Alonso ran the Real team for six years and made the switch to Munich in the summer to undertake a new challenge. This was his verdict on the Kroos transfer: “I am very excited that a player with the class and the quality of Kroos has joined. He’s such a good player that you have to look hard to find a weakness. There aren’t many players like him in the world.”
Kroos has shone in Spain so far, and not just on the pitch. Ten days before Kroos’ first apperance at the Bernabeu, Real legend Alfredo di Stefano passed away and he made his feelings known at his unveiling: “Before I begin, I’d like to express my sadness,” said Kroos. “I know how much he meant to this club and the fans.” 20,000 fans turned out for his introduction in Madrid. The stadium was buzzing and the response was overwhelming. “For something like this to happen in Germany is unimaginable,” said Kroos. “In Spain, the fans are more emotional in a football sense.”
Real under pressure
Kroos will get to experience the extent of the Spanish fans’ passion for the first time on Saturday. Real are under pressure after losing to both Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid. After eight games, Real are four points adrift of leaders Barcelona and sit in third place and therefore a loss is not an option.
Kroos knows what is at stake in the game. And he is excited for his first “El Clasico” at the Santiago Bernabéu. “It’s an important game for the fans and also in terms of the situation in the league,” he said, immediately after the 3-0 win in Liverpool. “Both teams are playing well and we’re excited!”
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DFB.de regularly presents one of the players from the national team ahead of an exciting weekend for the player. Today it’s the turn of Real Madrid playmaker Toni Kroos, who is preparing for his first El Clasico.
Kroos’ first touches as a Real Madrid player weren’t what Real bought him to the club for. Real thought that they would be the perfect fit for the world champion with his shooting technique, his precision and movement.
But that’s not what they got! Kroos’ first touch at Real was a pointless clearance, as were his second and third touches. Kroos then hoofs the ball into row Z for no apparent reason. His fourth touch is a pass that doesn’t find a teammate. Kroos hasn’t been brought to the Spanish capital for his rusticality, but rather for his virtuosity. Kroos receives a hug ovation, but it’s not because of his poor touches. It’s because the fans were attending his unveiling in July 2014, after Kroos had become a world champion only four days earlier. He did what every other player does at their unveiling: hits balls into the crowd and celebrates every shot.
From giant to another giant
Shortly before, he said his first words as a Madrid player: how it felt to be a newcomer at Real Madrid, how happy he was, how proud he was, how thankful he was etc. So far, so good. But there was a difference to many of his predecessors. Many stories are told after making the move to Real Madrid and they contain this message: finally the chance to play in big games, finally the chance to play with some of the greats. Toni Kroos’ story will be told differently.
He had already played in big games, he had already played for big teams and with big players. He arrived as a world champion, he came from FC Bayern and Kroos was not shocked by the magnitude of Real. Instead he said this: “We’re talking about two of the biggest clubs in the world.” And this: “I know how it feels to play in a team that has a lot of quality. It’s only the names that are different at Real Madrid.” And finally: “I am lucky to have been able to join this club where the demands are just as high. Therefore, I won’t really have to adjust my game.”
First El Clasico with a lot of black, red and gold
But is not that bad for a player with the skills, the capabilities and the confidence that Toni Kroos possesses. On Saturday, he’ll play in a game that’s new to him. Kroos has already played in the German “El Clasico” between Bayern and Dortmund, but he now gets to play in the real thing. Real Madrid face FC Barcelona at 18:00 CEST in a fixture that is seen as the ultimate football match in the world.
“I noticed that it was a big game when I was in Germany,” said Kroos, who will now get to play in it for the first time. The clubs have played each other 260 times, with Barcelona winning on 108 occasions, whilst Real have won 95 and 57 have ended in draws. In 2014, the game has something distinct about it: there’ll be more black, red and gold than ever before. In the 80s, the games between Real and Barca saw Bernd Schuster and Uli Stielike play against each other and this time Kroos will be joined by world champion Sami Khedira on the side of the hosts, whilst Germany under-21 goalkeeper Marc André ter Stegen will line-up for the visitors. There’s never been a trio of German players in an El Clasico before.
Kroos will remain focused on the game. On the pitch, Kroos has shown in his first ten weeks that he is exactly what Real paid for. He is an integral part of Carlo Ancelotti’s team and is a player who will be vital in the big games. In the important Champions League clash with Liverpool in midweek, that Real won 3-0, he shone under the floodlights as a playmaker, a crosser of the ball and as a passing machine.
Praise from his predecessors
His number of admirers is growing day by day, even his predecessor has revealed that he is a Kroos fan. Spaniard Xabi Alonso ran the Real team for six years and made the switch to Munich in the summer to undertake a new challenge. This was his verdict on the Kroos transfer: “I am very excited that a player with the class and the quality of Kroos has joined. He’s such a good player that you have to look hard to find a weakness. There aren’t many players like him in the world.”
Kroos has shone in Spain so far, and not just on the pitch. Ten days before Kroos’ first apperance at the Bernabeu, Real legend Alfredo di Stefano passed away and he made his feelings known at his unveiling: “Before I begin, I’d like to express my sadness,” said Kroos. “I know how much he meant to this club and the fans.” 20,000 fans turned out for his introduction in Madrid. The stadium was buzzing and the response was overwhelming. “For something like this to happen in Germany is unimaginable,” said Kroos. “In Spain, the fans are more emotional in a football sense.”
Real under pressure
Kroos will get to experience the extent of the Spanish fans’ passion for the first time on Saturday. Real are under pressure after losing to both Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid. After eight games, Real are four points adrift of leaders Barcelona and sit in third place and therefore a loss is not an option.
Kroos knows what is at stake in the game. And he is excited for his first “El Clasico” at the Santiago Bernabéu. “It’s an important game for the fans and also in terms of the situation in the league,” he said, immediately after the 3-0 win in Liverpool. “Both teams are playing well and we’re excited!”
