Joselu says Spain plan to “retire” Toni Kroos on Friday

Spain forward Joselu is hopeful that his team will “retire” his former Real Madrid teammate Toni Kroos in Friday’s Euro 2024 quarter-final with Germany. Kroos announced towards the end of last season that he would be retiring from professional football this summer, and the 34-year-old ended his Real Madrid career by helping Los Blancos win […]

Spain forward Joselu is hopeful that his team will “retire” his former Real Madrid teammate Toni Kroos in Friday’s Euro 2024 quarter-final with Germany.

Kroos announced towards the end of last season that he would be retiring from professional football this summer, and the 34-year-old ended his Real Madrid career by helping Los Blancos win yet another Champions League.

The midfielder is currently in action for Germany at the European Championship, but his time as a professional footballer will come to an end once the national side have been eliminated.

Joselu, who played alongside Kroos at Real Madrid in 2023-24, said that Spain will be aiming to make Friday’s Euro 2024 quarter-final the experienced midfielder’s “last game”.

“We hope it is his last game. It is a game that is not special because of him being here. It is a quarter-final against a great team,” the now Al Gharafa striker told reporters.

“We hope to retire Toni on Friday. He’s been a friend to me. I have spoken with him a lot and he has advised me a lot. He is fundamental for Germany and he has been for Real Madrid. We have to be careful with him on Friday,” Joselu told reporters ahead of Spain’s last-eight clash with the tournament hosts.

Spain have arguably been the best team at Euro 2024, with La Roja posting four straight wins at the competition against Croatia, Italy, Albania and Georgia.