Berlin is still reckoning with a World Cup exit that sent Paraguay into the last 16, and Toni Kroos has added a dry note to the conversation before Germany turn toward a new international cycle under Jürgen Klopp.
Kroos uses podcast joke to revisit Germany’s World Cup disappointment
Speaking with his brother Felix on their Einfach Mal Luppen podcast, the former Germany midfielder was set a challenge to name players who had missed the 2026 World Cup. His first three choices were Aleksandar Pavlovic, Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala — all three, of course, had been selected for the tournament.
“I have written down three players who were not at the World Cup: Pavlovic, Wirtz and Musiala,” Kroos said, delivering the line as a criticism of how little impact he felt the trio had made during Germany’s campaign.
Felix Kroos initially took the answer literally, asking which World Cup his brother meant before realising that the names were intended as a pointed joke. He then summed up the implication: had they simply gone unnoticed?
Pavlovic, Wirtz and Musiala were all in the Germany squad eliminated by Paraguay in the round of 32, a result that secured the South Americans’ place in the knockout stage’s final 16.
Klopp’s first Germany list brings attention to the next generation
The exchange came as the brothers considered Klopp’s first squad as Germany coach. The new manager is due to announce his selection on Thursday, ahead of the country’s opening fixtures in the latest Nations League campaign.
Once the humour had passed, Kroos named three players who did not feature at the World Cup and whom he would like Klopp to consider: Bayern Munich pair Tom Bischof and Lennart Karl, along with Cologne’s Said El Mala.
Felix Kroos offered a cross-border list of his own, choosing Inter Milan defender Yann Bisseck, Brentford forward Kevin Schade and Stuttgart midfielder Grischa Prömel.
Germany begin their Nations League programme away to the Netherlands in Amsterdam on 24 September. Greece follow on 27 September, Serbia visit on 1 October, and Germany then travel to Greece for a return meeting on 4 October.
SEO title: Toni Kroos criticises Germany World Cup trio before Klopp squad
SEO description: Toni Kroos jokingly questioned the World Cup impact of Pavlovic, Wirtz and Musiala as Germany await Jürgen Klopp’s first Nations League squad.
