#39 Toni Kroos ~ Set for exit?

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Kroos stays in control

Toni Kroos is a pretty useful fellow for Germany to have around in the UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Belgium. Not only does the playmaker have the experience of reaching the semi-finals last season, but his talent is such that FC Bayern München coach Ottmar Hitzfeld has already identified youth player Kroos as a prospect for the future and invited him to senior training.

Powerful shot
Kroos's performance last night in the opening Group A encounter against Ukraine justified Hitzfeld's good opinion. Kroos pulled the strings for his side in Eupen, and late on secured a more than deserved 2-0 win with a powerful shot that would probably have made its way over the nearby German border had the net not stopped the ball in its tracks. "It was a great ball from Kevin Wolze," Kroos told uefa.com. "I just hit it perfectly - I could not have struck it any better. The victory was deserved. We played better than Ukraine - we played well from the start. Ukraine had few chances to score so I am very satisfied."

Russia defeat
A year ago in Luxembourg, Germany also began with a fine win, with Kroos converting a penalty in a 4-0 defeat of Belgium, but after reaching the semi-finals they fell to a late goal by surprise champions Russia. Kroos is still driven by the memory of that loss. "We were better than Russia last year," he said. "We were unlucky to lose and I am very motivated to win. That's certainly possible with this team, but there are hard matches to come against France and Spain so we have to improve."

Modest
Kroos knows that he has an important role to play in that - but steps back from marking himself out as the key man. "Naturally I have the most experience but I am just one member of the team," he said. "I can help the team with that experience, but I am just one of them."

Bayern ambition
Though Kroos has already played a friendly with the Bayern first team he is modest about his status at the club. "We are going for the youth championship in Germany," he said. "I hope to be in the reserves next year and then maybe in the next few years I will be in the Bayern first team." Kroos clearly has hit feet on the ground but there is no doubt he is reaching for the stars.

uefa.com*-*UEFA European U-17 C'ship*-*News*-*News specific

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Kroos scored a lovely goal in the first game at the U17 EC, vs Ukraine, 2-0.

Download it: kroos_2-0_U17.rar - FileFront.com

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http://www.talksoccer.net/forum/germ...tml#post628958

Kroos scored another one for Germany U17, but unfortunately they lost 2-1 to France.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Kroos doing well, good.

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Kroos scored his 3rd goal of tournament yesterday.
Germany beat Holland 3-2, to secure fifth position in the UEFA European Under-17 Championship and with it a place at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

uefa.com*-*UEFA European U-17 C'ship*-*Fixtures & Results*-*Match Specific

[Oliver_Kahn]

Kroos played very well in this tournament, seems we got a future legend.

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Toni Kroos of Germany will share the honour of 2007 UEFA European Under-17 Championship finals top scorer with Victor Moses after the England playmaker failed to add to his three-goal tally in tonight's final

Three-goal tallies
Germany's campaign ended on Thursday with victory in the fifth-place play-off against the Netherlands, in which Kroos struck to add to goals in the group stage against Ukraine and France. Moses scored twice on Matchday 3 against the Dutch and again to clinch a 1-0 semi-final win versus France but like his team-mates was shut out against Spain today in Tournai.

Bojan goal
Bojan Krkić, last season's joint-top scorer in Luxembourg when he struck five for Spain, moved his 2007 finals haul to two with his goal against England, having opened his account in the last-four defeat of Belgium. Altogether the 16 games produced 47 goals.

Top scorers 2007 finals

Player / Country / Goals

Toni Kroos / Germany / 3
Victor Moses / England / 3
Daley Blind / Netherlands / 2
Bojan Krkić / Spain / 2
Nill De Pauw / Belgium / 2
Iago Falqué / Spain / 2
Kevin Kis / Belgium / 2
Damien Le Tallec / France / 2
Marko Matic / Netherlands / 2
Niels Ringoot / Belgium / 2
Richard Sukuta-Pasu / Germany / 2

uefa.com*-*UEFA European U-17 C'ship*-*News*-*News specific

[Oliver_Kahn]

The media continue to speculate wildly over Bayern's current frenetic activity in the transfer market. Altintop, Schlaudraff and Sosa are the confirmed signings so far, but Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and his fellow board directors are not yet ready to release any further names.

"Obviously, I know a lot more than has been announced up to now," Ottmar Hitzfeld revealed in a recent FCB.tv interview, "we've already completed one or two further transfers." The head coach toed the party line and politely declined to name the players involved.

Continued investment in youth

However, one fact is beyond doubt: the club will continue to nurture and promote individuals from the junior team youth section, alongside established stars costing millions. "Our work with young players is and remains a priority," general manager Uli Hoeneß confirmed at Tuesday evening's friendly against Ulm.

"Toni Kroos and Mats Hummels will definitely get their chance," the official continued. The 17-year-old Kroos and the slightly more senior Hummels, currently embroiled in his school leaving examinations, are likely to spend most of their training time with the seniors next term. "I think it's probable they'll both appear for the first team at some point," Hitzfeld added.

Reserve boss delighted with Hummels

Hummels made his Bundesliga debut against Mainz last weekend after replacing Martin Demichelis on the hour. He previously appeared in the pre-season League Cup and a prestige friendly in Barcelona, before accompanying the senior squad to the winter training camp in Dubai. To crown a momentous season, he made his debut for the Germany U-21s a couple of weeks ago, all at the tender age of 18.

Hummels rates as one of Germany's best young centre-halves. Veteran reserve coach Herman Gerland has already predicted a Bundesliga future for the youngster, with a decent chance of his making the grade at Bayern.

Classic playmaker Kroos

Young prodigy Kroos has made a similarly deep impression on his own club coach. "He plays in the hole behind the front two. That's his best position, where he can make best use of his strengths," Bayern U-19 coach Kurt Niedermayer explained, after bringing the 17-year-old to the Säbener Strasse from Hansa Rostock last summer. "He's come on extremely well since then," a visibly enthused Niedermayer continued.

"He scores plenty of goals from midfield. He's a great finisher, but he has the vision to play a killer final ball. He's already physically strong for his age, good on the ball and technically gifted. He has a solution for every problem. He's not the sort to push the ball three yards and think he's done his job. He knows where to play the ball."

Hoeneß predicts bright future

Kroos was hailed as one of the up-and-coming stars of the recent U-17 European Championships in Belgium, and the player will travel with the German squad to the Youth World Cup from 18 August to 9 September in South Korea. At club level, Kroos is a U-19 regular and already a figure of authority.

Hitzfeld has taken the budding young playmaker under his wing in recent weeks, including him in first-team training sessions. Toni appeared for the seniors at the Bulls Cup in Salzburg last February, and covered the full distance in Ulm on Tuesday. Both appearances required special permission from the local association, as Kroos is technically too young to appear at senior level until next season.

All the signs are that Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Andreas Ottl and the club's other successful youth products could soon be joined by two more of their number. "I'm convinced Tony Kroos will play for the first team very soon," Hoeneß predicted.

[Sami_Khedira]

I actually love how good the youth in Germany is coming up. After all this desert years with no youth players at all, we finally have such a depth of talents again, its not funny anymore

I´m really into the youth football in Germany and there are loads of high promising youngsters who will rock the WC 2010/14 /EC 2012. Toni Kroos is one of them for sure, the other big talent in OMF is Marko Marin (18, plays at Borussia Mönchengladbach and is seen as (one of) Europe's biggest talent on this position)
Really looking forward to Germany´s footballing future 8)

I´m pretty curious if Kroos gets his first appearance in Bayerns senior team next season, hmm....

[Oliver_Kahn]

Originally Posted by Sami_Khedira

I actually love how good the youth in Germany is coming up. After all this desert years with no youth players at all, we finally have such a depth of talents again, its not funny anymore

I´m really into the youth football in Germany and there are loads of high promising youngsters who will rock the WC 2010/14 /EC 2012. Toni Kroos is one of them for sure, the other big talent in OMF is Marko Marin (18, plays at Borussia Mönchengladbach and is seen as (one of) Europe's biggest talent on this position)
Really looking forward to Germany´s footballing future 8)

I´m pretty curious if Kroos gets his first appearance in Bayerns senior team next season, hmm....

Definately, Germany are producing many promising youngsters, they have great goalkeepers in Adler and Neuer; great defenders in Mertesacker, Castro (although you can consider him to be a midfielder), Jansen, Tasci; greta midfielders in Hilbert, Kroos, also Schweini and Troche; great strikers in Kiessling, Helmes, Poldi and now Gomez.
The future definately looks bright for Germany.

This is the first time I've heard of Marin, could you give me a few more info on him ?

As for Kroos, he'll probably have his debut in a Cup match.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Toni Kroos on the Euro u-17

TalkSoccer Media Player

Brilliant goal

[Sami_Khedira]

Originally Posted by Oliver_Kahn

Definately, Germany are producing many promising youngsters, they have great goalkeepers in Adler and Neuer; great defenders in Mertesacker, Castro (although you can consider him to be a midfielder), Jansen, Tasci; great midfielders in Hilbert, Kroos, also Schweini and Troche; great strikers in Kiessling, Helmes, Poldi and now Gomez.
The future definitely looks bright for Germany.

This is the first time I've heard of Marin, could you give me a few more info on him ?

This is gonna be a bit OT now, but as far its okay There are couple of more talents to come, I can tell cuz I´m following the youth football and youth national teams quite a while now, those young fellows you named are only the top of the cake....anyway let me introduce IMO ( and many other opinions) Germany´s biggest offensive midfield talent Marko Marin :


Basics:
Marko Marin, born 13.03.1989 (turned 18 lately), Height:1,68m ,Club: Borussia Mönchengladbach, plays in the german youth team since U-15, currently U-18, will get promoted to german U-19 soon (he´s too good for his age class 8) )

Oh well where to start: Mhm Marin was one of the outstanding players of the U-17 EC last year. Together with Manuel Fischer (who became Topscorer together with Bojan Krkic ) he rocked the german team. He played in third BuLi (in the second team of BMG) at the nearly age of 17 and become quickly one of the most important player in that team. Also he was nominated for the European Meridian Cup ( an european U-17 All-star team) where he made in the first match 3 assists and was the best player on the pitch. On 31.03.2007 -a few days after his 18. birthday-he made his first appearence in the first BuLi and made 20 minutes after he came in the final goal assist which saved his team one point at least. Marin is seen as one of europeans hottest prospect and had several offers from Spain and Ajax Amsterdam after Borussia was relegated. Its expected that Marko will sign his first pro-contract at BMG the next days, its well known that the club do set their hopes in him for the next season and second devision...as one of the most important players for this team (at the age of 18!). And I´m soo looking forward to see that highly skilled young lad rock the second league 8)

To his playing style: I only have found a bad quality vid of his debut, cuz there isn´t so much footage of him til now (there isn´t that special to see of him ,but alone his movements with the ball are awesome) . Marin is probably the most technical skilled player I´ve ever seen in Germany (okay since Thomas Haessler and Pierre Littbarski ) He´s quick, he dribbles and handles the ball perfectly, he has yet a great eye for passes and his teammates, he got a good feeling for the one in one situations (he´s small but able to put up knots in the opponent legs easily ), his crosses are very well timed and curved, also he has a talent for freekicks, he made several freekick-goals (and assists) last season (NT-included). Marin IMO is not the classic No.10 cuz I would say he´s more the Ronaldinho-position type (no comparisons here )

Who knows business in football works quicker today, if Marko´s doing great in (second) BuLi I´d not be too surprised to see him in the A-nationalteam in a year or two. Outstanding talent...if he doesn´t make his way, I´ll definitely lost my confidence in football...

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[Oliver_Kahn]

Thanks mate, great post. Those stats are very impressive.

I see you rate this guy very highly and he indeed has some good moves on the ball. So you would say that Marin > Kroos ?

[Sami_Khedira]

Oh I wouldn´t say that, they are just just different types of players, Kroos is the leading Ballack type while Marin is more the quick fast dribble player (more in Ronaldinhos way)....
But both got a nearly perfect technique and are class talents without a doubt. We will have a lot of joy with this young lads in the future, WC 2010/ EC 2012 will be great. Looking forward to this 8)