Former Germany international Toni Kroos and his brother Felix have harshly criticised the state of the German national team, claiming in their podcast that it has never been easier for a player to earn a call-up. The comments come after a mixed week for Julian Nagelsmann’s squad, which suffered a shocking 2-0 defeat to Slovakia before a hard-fought 3-1 win over Northern Ireland in their opening 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Speaking on their podcast, “Einfach mal Luppen,” the Kroos brothers questioned the quality of the current squad. Felix Kroos, a former Bundesliga player, reportedly stated that “three or four strong Bundesliga weeks are currently enough to land in the national team.” Toni Kroos, who retired from football earlier this year, agreed with the sentiment, suggesting that he wouldn’t know all the players in the current squad.
The criticism highlights the growing pressure on Nagelsmann and the DFB (German Football Association). The German coach acknowledged the team’s struggles, stating after the Northern Ireland match, “We still have a lot of steps to take.” He also expressed frustration with the public’s impatience, which was evident in the whistles from some fans at halftime during the victory over Northern Ireland.
Nagelsmann’s side, playing without key injured players like Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz, relied on goals from Serge Gnabry, substitute Nadiem Amiri, and Florian Wirtz to secure the win. While earning three points, the performance failed to fully quell the “anxiety” surrounding the team’s form ahead of the World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
The DFB’s next World Cup qualifiers are against Luxembourg and Northern Ireland in October. The team will hope to gain momentum and demonstrate that it can compete with the world’s best, a claim Toni Kroos has cast serious doubt on, stating that Germany is “light years away” from being a World Cup contender.
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