On the eve of Germany's upcoming UEFA Europa League quarterfinal against Spain, German midfielder Kroos attended a pre-match conference and spoke on topics such as preparation for the tournament, his personal retirement plans, the winning mentality, and the significance of winning the UEFA Europa League.
On the upcoming opponent Spain, Kroos said, "We have studied Spain thoroughly to understand their strengths and weaknesses. Friday's game will be a tough conversation between two teams that specialize in ball control. Spain has done well in this tournament, but we're not going to let them down. I'm sure it'll be an interesting game, and my instincts tell me it'll be anything but boring. We are well prepared and look forward to showing our strength on the field."
Speaking about his decision to retire soon, Kroos appeared very open: "I'm not nostalgic and I'm not afraid to end my career. It's a decision I've made on my own after a lot of thought. While I may miss soccer in the future, as it has been an integral part of my life, I am also looking forward to starting a new chapter. I am confident that whatever career I pursue in the future, I will give it my all as I do with soccer."
Regarding the shaping of a winner's mindset, Cross has a unique insight: "A winner's mindset or belief can be shaped, but it is difficult to pass on directly to others. This mentality needs to be cultivated gradually through personal feelings and experiences. Over the past few months, the German team's belief has been strengthened considerably. We have been through many difficult moments together, but have always remained united and resilient. The victory over the Netherlands in March gave us great confidence because it was a win against a strong team and it helped us to turn around the bad situation we were in. In the Europa League, we had our fair share of challenges, but the team always persevered, which is vital for a team. Now, we are winning or at least staying unbeaten in matches more often, which is a big improvement from the past."
Finally, Kroos spoke about the significance of winning the Europa League: "The Europa League title is the second most important trophy at the national team level, and its importance cannot be overstated. If I didn't have the confidence to win it, I wouldn't have chosen to return to the national team. Winning it would be an exciting end to my career. Of course, I am well aware of the uncertainty of the outcome of the competition, but I am willing to accept this challenge. I've had great success during my years at Real Madrid and now I hope to achieve the same on the Euro stage. Even if I don't end up getting what I want, I won't feel devastated or disappointed because I've done everything I can to get there."
