Toni Kroos addressed the media on Tuesday afternoon from Germany’s base camp in Herzogenaurach, with just three days remaining before die Mannschaft get EURO2024 underway.
They’ll face Scotland in Munich at 20:00 BST [21:00 CEST] on Friday, and Kroos explained that he is relishing the opportunity to play a major tournament on home soil before he hangs up his boots.
The 34-year-old midfielder has already ensured that his final campaign as a professional footballer ended ceremoniously, lifting the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid at Wembley Stadium on June 1.
“It would be almost too cheesy, this end with the Champions League and the European Championship, but I would take it,” he joked on Tuesday.
“A home tournament is of course more special because you get direct feedback on your doorstep. Germany is enthusiastic and therefore we have a great responsibility for the mood in the country in the next few weeks and want to positively influence this with the performance on the pitch.”
Embed from Getty Images“On the other hand, it is also a great honour to be able to play such a home tournament. Everyone has to realise that, what a privilege that is.”
“The fans are ready, Germany is ready for a good tournament. Now it’s up to us,” he added.
But their opening match against Scotland may prove to be a tricky test, with Kroos admitting that the Tartan Army fall into “the category of opponents with which the national team has recently struggled very hard [against].”
“The Scots became an unpleasant opponent – we know what kind of opponent awaits us… it’s a team that is physically very strong, compactly well defended and then also plays good counterattacks.”
FromTheSpot will deliver comprehensive coverage of Germany v Scotland on our website and our X account.
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