KROOS UNCERTAIN FOR CUP FINAL XI

June 3, 2022 0 By index

Retired German international Toni Kroos is uncertain of a place in the Real Madrid starting XI ahead of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) final clash with Liverpool this weekend. Real Madrid have won the European Cup/Champions League 13 times and they have the chance to win it for the 14th time when they take on Liverpool in Paris on Saturday. On their part, Liverpool have won the competition six times and they could move level with newly crowned Italian champions AC Milan on seven titles if they beat Real Madrid in Paris.


Real Madrid are the most successful team in Europe and the only team in double figures for titles as far as the European Cup/Champions League is concerned. AC Milan are the second most successful team with seven titles, while Liverpool are the third most successful team with six titles.

Ahead of the final, Toni Kroos could start the game on the bench with competition for places in midfield very stiff. For over a decade, Real Madrid have had a settled midfield trio of Casemiro, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, but things have changed this season due to the fact that age is no longer on the side of the aforementioned trio. Younger midfielders such as Federico Valverde and last summer’s signing Eduardo Camavinga are getting more minutes in the Real Madrid midfield than expected. Camavinga and Valverde have been very important forReal Madrid during the Champions League knockout stage this season.

Kroos, Modric, Camavinga, Casemiro and Valverde are all in contention for three midfield slots ahead of the Champions League final or four midfield slots depending on the tactics employed by Carlo Ancelotti. Croatian international Modric is almost a constant in the Real Madrid midfield especially in the big games thus leaving two or three midfield slots for the others to fight for ahead of the game against the Reds.