Euro 2024: What did the Germany coach say about "maestro" Toni Kroos?

The German national team set several records in their opening day victory at Euro 2024, held on home soil. Goals from Wirtz, Musiala, Havertz, Fullkrug, Can, and an own goal by Rudiger helped Germany achieve the biggest opening match win in the history of the European Championship.

Germany thrashed Scotland in a match where statistics clearly showed the home team's superior skill and class. Julian Nagelsmann's side had 20 shots on goal, 20 times more than their opponents, dominated possession at 73%, and became the team with the most opening match wins in European Championship history, with a total of 8 wins.

Although he didn't score in the 5-1 victory against Scotland, midfielder Toni Kroos was the leader in Germany's diverse and sharp attacking play during the 80 minutes of their opening match at Euro 2024.

Commenting on the player who is only two years younger, coach Nagelsmann said that midfielder Toni Kroos used his experience and influence to keep the German team calm and confident, leading to a resounding victory against Scotland.

The 36-year-old German coach emphasized that the opening match of a tournament is always difficult because teams are slow to get into rhythm, but Kroos knew how to coordinate and direct the midfield to create important highlights in the match.

"Kroos is an indispensable part of the German team. In the 80 minutes he was on the field, he made 102 passes with almost 100% accuracy. Kroos is experienced and very confident. Before the match, the whole team was a bit disorganized, but after Kroos's advice, everyone became a solid unit, full of confidence when they took to the field," said coach Nagelsmann after the press conference.

In addition, Nagelsmann also praised his players for overcoming their "disease" of lacking focus in the early stages of the match. He said: "In the first 20 minutes, we played very impressively and scored two early goals. Overall, the whole team played very focused. The lack of concentration had previously been a problem that led to criticism of the German players."

Meanwhile, captain Ilkay Gundogan also urged his teammates not to rest on their laurels but to quickly get back to preparing for the upcoming matches. "We played with high intensity, played in the right space, took some risks, and that's why we scored. We started well, but the goal we conceded also shows that all teams are very strong, and if we don't stay focused, we will pay the price."

The remaining match in Group A, taking place on June 15th, is the clash between Hungary and Switzerland at 8 PM (VTV). In the second round of Group A matches, hosts Germany will welcome Hungary, while Scotland will play against Switzerland.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/euro-2024-hlv-tuyen-duc-noi-gi-ve-nhac-truong-toni-kroos-196240615092558228.htm