Kroos comeback impressive but Ramelow 'sceptical' of Germany's Euro 2024 hopes

Toni Kroos' comeback from international retirement started with two impressive results but Carsten Ramelow remains "sceptical" over Germany's Euro 2024 hopes.

Real Madrid midfielder Kroos reversed his decision to retire from Julian Nagelsmann's national team, returning in March before back-to-back victories over France and Netherlands.

In doing so, the 34-year-old – who had not played on the international stage for three years prior – equalled Jurgen Klinsmann's 108-match tally, with only seven players now having more appearances for Germany.

Kroos was an integral figure in Nagelsmann's midfield as the Euro 2024 hosts swept aside France 2-0 in a Lyon friendly before overcoming Netherlands 2-1 in a Frankfurt meeting. Yet former Germany midfielder

Ramelow remains unsure whether Nagelsmann's side will hit similar heights when it comes to hosting the European Championships in June.

"I don't know what happened with the team in the March games but the results were good," former Bayer Leverkusen player Ramelow told Stats Perform.

"In Germany, you now tend to say we will win the Euros… We also play at home, so we are European Champions already – that's always interesting how the media sees this.

"The positive things were the recent results and the performances of the national team. They have improved drastically, also the overall mentality.

"Whether it was the impact of Toni Kroos, we will see. He is a player that has held a very high level over the years with Real Madrid, no doubt.

"He can definitely help the team, but whether that is something for the future remains to be seen. I am still sceptical because we had many years where nothing worked and two games where they played well."

 

Ramelow was at least pleased to see Germany find basics such as "passion, heart and commitment" in the friendly victories, though insists time will tell on their success and Kroos' performances.

"[The results] also created euphoria, which is good," the versatile 46-cap Germany defender added. "But in the end, we have to wait for the tournament to start.

"Then we will see if all of that still works between Toni Kroos and the rest of the team. I think it's too early to claim we are back on track and will play a successful tournament.

"Regarding Toni Kroos, I also have to say I was a bit surprised about his comeback, because they attempted to start all over again."

Germany start their Euro 2024 campaign against Scotland on June 14, though Kroos and his team will face Ukraine and Greece in friendlies before that tournament opener at the Allianz Arena.

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X reacts as Liverpool suffer damaging Europa League defeat to Atalanta
Liverpool facing huge battle to reach the semi-finals after heavy first-leg defeat
Atalanta produced a masterful performance as Reds lost at Anfield for first time in 2023/24
Return leg set to be played in Bergamo next week

By Jude Summerfield
Apr 11, 2024
Liverpool were battered on Thursday night
Liverpool were battered on Thursday night / Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/GettyImages
Liverpool have produced some incredible comebacks throughout their history and another monumental recovery will be needed to resurrect their Europa League campaign after a damaging defeat to Atalanta.

The Reds were heavily fancied to go all the way in Europe's secondary competition and hadn't lost a match at Anfield since their thumping at the hands of Real Madrid last season.

However, the visiting Atalanta - just sixth in Serie A - were smart and efficient under manager Gian Piero Gasperini's direction and took the lead before half-time when former West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca bagged in the 38th minute.

He was at it again just after the hour mark. The Reds were caught napping as Charles De Ketelaere cut the home defence open to find Scamacca to double the visitors' lead.

Atalanta were in dreamland with the tie almost won at the half-way stage as they went three goals ahead. Teun Koopmeiners broke free and while Caoimhin Kelleher saved Ederson's strike, the ball fell to Mario Pasalic to make it 3-0.












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Liverpool 0-3 Atalanta: Player ratings as Reds suffer shock Anfield thrashing
Liverpool's European hopes left in tatters by first Anfield defeat since February 2023
Former West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca scores twice
Second leg in Bergamo looks a formality
By David Lynch
Apr 11, 2024
Scamacca's double helped Atalanta beat Liverpool
Scamacca's double helped Atalanta beat Liverpool / Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/GettyImages
Liverpool's Europa League hopes have been left hanging by a thread after a shock 3-0 defeat to Atalanta in the first leg of the sides' quarter-final tie.

A brace from former West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca and a further strike from Mario Pasalic condemned the Reds to their first loss at Anfield since February 2023, when they were beaten by Real Madrid.

And, barring a miraculous comeback in Bergamo, dreams of Jurgen Klopp capping his final season in charge with a European trophy look to be dead.

How the game unfolded
The raft of changes made by manager Klopp suggested he felt Liverpool might be in for a straightforward evening, but any such illusions were dashed early doors.

That was because it was the Italians who created the first big chance of the game as Pasalic forced Caoimhin Kelleher into an unorthodox save with his head when he should really have finished from close range.

Liverpool responded well, with Alexis Mac Allister driving over from a Harvey Elliott cutback before Darwin Nunez hit an effort straight at Juan Musso and then dinked a one-on-one chance wide.

And when Elliott hit both the crossbar and the inside of the post with a curling attempt from just inside the box, it seemed a matter of time until Liverpool scored.

However, the Reds' failure to take their chances was punished soon after, Davide Zappacosta making full use of space on the right flank to cutback for Scamacca to pass the ball under Kelleher.

With the scoreline unchanged at half-time, Klopp looked to his bench, introducing Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Andy Robertson in a bid to change things.

It looked like that might work as Liverpool created a string of opportunities, with a Salah shot into the hands of Musso and a poor Nunez strike from close range the best of them.

But Atalanta were there again for the sucker punch, Scamacca passing home a perfect cross from the right to send the visiting fans wild.

Liverpool looked stunned and suddenly began struggling to carve out opportunities of their own having given the visitors something to defend.

And even when the Reds finally did break through, Salah was spotted venturing into an offside position before smashing home a Robertson cross in emphatic fashion.

Unfortunately for the hosts, their creative failings were once again punished at the death, Pasalic scoring from close range after being given too much space in the box to effectively end the tie.

Liverpool player ratings (4-3-3)
Caoimhin Kelleher, Mario Pasalic
Kelleher made an early stop with his head / Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/GettyImages
GK: Caoimhin Kelleher - 4/10 - Made a brilliant early save with his head but will be so disappointed with the first and third goals.

RB: Joe Gomez - 4/10 - Never looked comfortable with Atalanta's aggression and took on some silly shots to waste possession going forward.

CB: Ibrahima Konate - 4/10 - Usually so commanding in the air but lost an unusual amount of duels as Atalanta's physicality told.

CB: Virgil van Dijk - 5/10 - Not as involved as Konate but is usually so much better at organising his backline.

LB: Kostas Tsimikas - 5/10 - Allowed Zappacosta the freedom of Anfield to tee up the opener. Taken off at the break on just his second start since December.

CM: Wataru Endo - 5/10 - Wasn't given a minute's peace by an energetic Atalanta midfield and struggled both on and off the ball as a result.

CM: Alexis Mac Allister - 5/10 - Has been Liverpool's talisman of late but just couldn't get it going creatively on a tough evening for the entire midfield.

CM: Curtis Jones - 5/10 - Looked like a man who is still searching for rhythm as he makes his way back from injury. Hooked at half-time.

RW: Harvey Elliott - 5/10 - Hit the bar and post with Liverpool's best effort of the first half but at times lacks the pace to make a big enough impact on the wing.

LW: Cody Gakpo - 6/10 - Arguably Liverpool's best attacker but faded towards the end.

CF: Darwin Nunez - 4/10 - Looked like last season's version of Nunez as he missed a host of presentable opportunities before being taken off on the hour mark.

Substitutes
SUB: Mohamed Salah (46 for Elliott) - 5/10 - Wasted a good opportunity.

SUB: Dominik Szoboszlai (46 for Jones) - 5/10 - Forced it too much.

SUB: Andy Robertson (46 for Tsimikas) - 6/10 - Brought impetus down the left-hand side.

SUB: Luis Diaz (60 for Nunez) - 5/10 - Couldn't change things.

SUB: Diogo Jota (76 for Endo) - 6/10 - Added threat in his brief time on the pitch.

Subs not used: Adrian, Gravenberch, Clark, Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Bradley, Bajcetic.

Manager
Jurgen Klopp - 4/10 - Completely underestimated Atalanta's threat with his selection and couldn't remedy it with his subs.

Player of the match: Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta)
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