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İlkay Gündoğan and Toni Kroos, 2020

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FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP

Before national coach Julian Nagelsmann brought former world champion Toni Kroos back into the national soccer team, he contacted DFB captain İlkay Gündoğan and asked for his opinion.

“Julian Nagelsmann had obviously heard here and there that Toni’s return could be a problem for me, then he picked up the phone, called me and asked me directly,” said Gündoğan in an interview with the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”: “I told him straight away said that I totally agree with that and have never had a problem with Toni.

On the contrary, we value each other very much and understand each other well.«

Nagelsmann called up both Gündoğan, 33, and the 34-year-old Kroos, who last played for Germany at the 2021 European Championship, for the first two international matches of the European Championship year on March 23 in France and three days later against the Netherlands squad.

“We want to prove to the critics that Toni and I fit together and can put our stamp on the German game,” announced Gündoğan.

There are always doubts about the interaction between the two stars, for example Gündoğan and Kroos formed the midfield duo in the 6-0 disgrace against Spain in 2020.

Both are considered relatively similar types of players with strengths in building play but weaknesses in defense.

Gündoğan will play in front of Kroos

The solution could be for Kroos to act a little more defensively, as he did recently at Real Madrid, and Gündoğan to act a little more offensively, like in his best times at Manchester City.

The FC Barcelona professional revealed that the latter had already been discussed with the national coach: "As far as I'm concerned, I will take on a more offensive role in the national team."

Either way, Kroos and Gündoğan want to find playful solutions in the midfield control center.

“Neither of us is a real duel monster or is known for often making a physical statement or attracting attention by winning aerial duels after long balls,” said Gündoğan.

However, they don't want to establish a Spanish style of play in the DFB team: "Our intention is not to bring a Spanish touch into the game, but rather to orientate ourselves on what the coach tells us."

Privately, the two DFB stars hardly have any contact in Spain, revealed Gündoğan.

"When we meet on the pitch before the games, there's the usual 'Hey, is everything okay, is everything okay with the family?' Everything is fine between Toni and me."

kjo/dpa