90min
·4 July 2024
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·4 July 2024
Joselu has boldly revealed his intention to "retire" former Real Madrid teammate Toni Kroos on Friday night in Euro 2024's eagerly anticipated quarter-final tie between Spain and Germany.
Kroos has already walked away from club football - his last game was the Champions League for Madrid last month - and will hang up his boots for good after this tournament. Now that the knockouts are here, the modern day icon is potentially only ever 90 minutes away from the end.
"We hope it is his last game," Joselu said in the build-up. "It is a game that is not special because of him being here - it is [special because it's] a quarter-final against a great team.
"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.
"It is very important for us to win, to qualify [for the semi-finals]. 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."
Euro 2024 is Toni Kroos' final act as a footballer / Alexander Hassenstein/GettyImages
Joselu played alongside Kroos last season as Los Blancos won La Liga and the Champions League.
The Spaniard will aim to add more silverware to his cabinet with Al Gharafa in Qatar next season after opting against a permanent transfer to the Bernabeu, despite Madrid's wish to make it happen.
Whoever prevails from Germany or Spain will face France or Portugal in the Euro semis.
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