Spain striker Joselu Mato has he hopes to retire former Real Madrid teammate Toni Kroos in Friday’s Euro 2024 quarter-finals against Germany.
Kroos is playing his final tournament, and elimination would be the end of the road for the 2014 FIFA World Cup winner.
“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. We hope to retire Toni on Friday,” Joselu said ahead of the game.
“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.
“We know the conditions that Toni has. I think he is a fundamental player, but we cannot focus only on him. The ball goes through him every time Germany has possession… and Toni is a player who represents everything for them. We will have to have a special eye on him so that Germany do not enjoy the game.”
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Joselu added:“It is very important to win to qualify. About Toni, we have to believe in ourselves. We don’t care about the other team’s players. I think Friday will be Toni’s last game.”
The last time Spain and Germany met at the Euros was in the final of the 2008 edition.
A Fernando Torres first half strike earned Spain a 1-0 win and landed a first major trophy since winning the European Championship in 1964.
Both teams also met in the semi-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup which Spain won 1-0 through a Charles Puyol’s header.
