'He pees ice cubes!' Ice cool Kroos key to Germany's hopes
It was up to Toni Kroos to announce the message near to breaking news.
Like a company director, the Real Madrid midfielder revealed that Germany's goal scored by Florian Wirtz against France after just eight seconds on Saturday was rehearsed and invented by the team's set piece coach, Mads Buttgereit.
Toni Kroos of Germany reacts after the UEFA Nations League group match against Spain in Seville, Spain, on Nov. 17, 2020. (Photo by Pablo Morano/Xinhua)
That it was Kroos revealing such inside knowledge after Germany's 2-0 victory in Lyon gave proof of the 34-year-old's status since his return to the national team after two-year absence.
His 107th international turned into a Kroos festival, with 143 touches, 95 percent of his passes on target, and a tackle rate of 75 successful man-to-man duels.
"He is so cool, he pees ice cubes," Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann stated following the team's first victory on French soil after over ten years.
"He does everything, he keeps the ball safe, dictates the tempo and is a lionhearted fighter," Nagelsmann added.
Leverkusen forward Wirtz finished what developed after Kroos' stunning pass, scoring the quickest goal in Germany's history, beating Lukas Podolski's 2013 strike after nine seconds against Ecuador.
"Toni is the decisive factor. We saw the best performance in many years," said sporting director Rudi Voller.
The result and the convincing performance triggered a mood of euphoria around the struggling 2014 World Cup winners.
Not only did Voller mention wanting to extend Nagelsmann's short-term contract due to "a profound job satisfaction", the coach indicated he may stay on beyond the expiry of his current deal following the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament on home soil this summer.
The coach's significant changes, including handing caps to several newcomers and seeing five-time Champions League winner Kroos return to the line-up, have paid off.
"He is the one deciding our rhythm, he is feeling the game, and everyone knows what to do just by getting a sharp or soft pass," Nagelsmann emphasized.
Ahead of another friendly against the Netherlands on Tuesday, the Germans used "the last chance to create a satisfying feeling of confidence", as Kroos put it.
Achieving game control triggered hopes and turned things for the better after the mood had hit rock bottom only a few weeks ago due to painful defeats against Turkey and Austria.
"He left his heart on the pitch," Nagelsmann said in his endless praise of the team's undisputed leader.