Toni Kroos slams German national team: 'No world-class players'

Following Germany's unexpected exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the Round of 32, former national team star Toni Kroos delivered a scathing assessment of the current squad's quality. Germany, managed by Julian Nagelsmann, was defeated by Paraguay on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regular time.

Kroos expressed blunt opinions about the players' standing on the global stage. "We don't have a single world-class player right now," he stated. "We have players with the potential to be world-class, but that doesn't mean they already are." He pointed to the decisive impact of top-tier players in major tournaments, noting that they often lead goal-scoring charts and determine match outcomes.

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We don't have a single world-class player right now. We have players with the potential to be world-class, but that doesn't mean they already are.

"World Cup matches are decided by world-class players, and they are at the top of the goal-scoring list. We don't have such a player, and we have to be honest about this," Kroos added. He contrasted the current team's mindset with that of successful German squads in the past.

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World Cup matches are decided by world-class players, and they are at the top of the goal-scoring list. We don't have such a player, and we have to be honest about this.

"In times when we had successful tournaments, I always had the feeling that we could reach a higher level. This team is no longer capable of doing that," Kroos remarked on the 'Kroos & Kroos: die WM unter der Lupe' podcast. "We just think we are better than Paraguay and will win somehow."

Kroos's comments have reignited criticism within Germany regarding the national team's performance and direction, particularly after their early World Cup departure.

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In times when we had successful tournaments, I always had the feeling that we could reach a higher level. This team is no longer capable of doing that. We just think we are better than Paraguay and will win somehow.