Toni Kroos' royal farewell
The 15th European Cup title is emblematic of Real Madrid's era of success and, above all, of exceptional player Toni Kroos's unique style of play.
After their fifteenth Champions League triumph, Real Madrid celebrated Toni Kroos more than the title itself. Given the enormous amount of affection shown to the midfielder at the award ceremony, it sometimes seemed that Kroos was the trophy. Everyone wanted to be as close to him as possible after his 465th match for Real and last competitive game in club soccer, a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund on Saturday. All the players and support staff hugged him for so long that they gave the impression they didn't want to let him go.
The team threw him into the air several times in recognition, almost as high as the steel arch above Wembley Stadium. When Kroos saw the soccer world like a king from above, he pointed his fingers at his team. He always saw himself as a team player right to the end. This is another reason why he is not only appreciated at Real but also loved and revered. As soon as he was substituted in the 86th minute of the game, his colleagues ran towards the German and formed a similar trellis as they had done at the official farewell in the last home game of the season. Jude Bellingham, who is on the way to potentially becoming a new Kroos, reverently pointed to the 2014 world champion and encouraged the already bowing Real fans to pay tribute.
Kroos is the youngsters' teacher
Visibly moved, as Kroos is never usually seen, he accepted the ovation. He gratefully waved his arms in the direction of his supporters. He then left the pitch - and only returned once more to collect the medal for his sixth Champions League victory. Together with his teammates Dani Carvajal, Nacho and Luka Modric, Kroos equalled the all-time record of Real legend Paco Gento.
Kroos admitted that saying goodbye with this great success meant an incredible amount to him. It was the absolutely perfect end that he had always dreamed of. He will only play for Germany at the upcoming European Championships. Ancelotti felt that Kroos was retiring at the pinnacle of his career and that he simply couldn't go any higher. And who better to judge that than the Italian, who has now won the Champions League five times as a coach and twice as a player? He praised the strategist for his attitude, seriousness and professionalism. In his view, the 34-year-old has not disappointed once in a Real shirt.
Kroos is emblematic of the Real game
Since moving from FC Bayern for €25 million ten years ago, Kroos has truly shaped one of Real's most glorious eras. His demeanor and style of play have become increasingly emblematic of his team's abilities, and this was probably more evident against Dortmund than ever before. Kroos remained calm at all times in a complicated game and exuded confidence that few other players at this level possess. Once again, he served as a guide for his own team.
Although Kroos hardly got into the match in the first half due to Dortmund's man-to-man marking of Marcel Sabitzer, he kept his patience. To a certain extent, he accepted his opponent's superiority and countered with tenacity and commitment. These qualities can be felt more than they can be perceived. In a way, Kroos simply waited and relied on the fact that Dortmund would not be able to keep up the high initial tempo at some point.
Kroos also proved his sense of timing when he retired
Thierry Henry, one of the world's best strikers of his time, recently explained that the teams that win the Champions League are usually the ones that are able to fight best in addition to playing skill. And it is precisely this ability to suffer that characterizes Kroos, as well as Real. In reference to the many missed goalscoring opportunities, Bellingham summed it up by saying that Real Madrid always hits back if they are not completely killed off.Real's turning point came with a half-time strategic move: Ancelotti strengthened the midfield by withdrawing Bellingham from the attack by one position. Dortmund's defeat resembled a duplicate of the 2013 final defeat against FC Bayern, with the course of the game being almost identical.
Real's turning point came with a half-time strategic move: Ancelotti strengthened the midfield by withdrawing Bellingham from the attack by one position. As a result, Sabitzer had to align himself more with the Englishman, and Kroos enjoyed more freedom. From then on, he allowed the ball to circulate and organized the game with short and long passes. One of his corners landed on Dani Carvajal's head for the opening goal. The sports magazine “Marca” described him as a “blond metronome” because of his precision. At times, it really did seem as if Toni Kroos was a mechanical ball distributor. In recent years, he has passed on his knowledge to the younger generation, to Bellingham and particullarly Eduardo Camavinga. “Marca” called out to the latter: “Watch and learn, boy!”
Toni Kroos also proved his sense of timing when he announced his retirement two weeks ago. This allowed him to say a fitting farewell to his own fans. And avoid his future becoming the focus of attention around the Champions League final, which is frowned upon among footballers. Instead, he said goodbye in his very own way, stylishly and reservedly, almost royally.