Germany midfielder Toni Kroos says he wants to
continue playing for Germany until Euro 2022 after he had considered
international retirement.
Fellow midfielder Sami Khedira also said he wants to remain available
for the national team but would understand if he was no longer
selected.
Kroos, 28, told Bild newspaper published Thursday he had thought
about stepping down from the national team before the World Cup, but
especially afterwards following Germany's early exit.
However the Real Madrid player, recently voted Germany's player of
the year, said this was not based on the team's success or otherwise
in Russia but because he felt he needed more periods of rest.
After talks with coach Joachim Loew, Kroos, who has made 86
appearances for Germany, said they would find "joint solutions so
that I get a necessary rest here and there."
Loew said he welcomed the decision in a statement on the German
federation website.
"With his experience, class and personality he is of course a key
player who has a very important role in our further planning, on and
off the pitch," he said.
It is the first time since the World Cup that the coach has spoken
about an individual player.
Juventus midfielder Khedira, who has 77 caps, meanwhile said he would
accept being dropped by Loew if the coach felt there were better
players.
But if he was picked "then this is always an honour and an obligation
for me," 31-year-old Khedira wrote on his social media platforms.
Following Germany's exit in the group stage at the World Cup,
midfielder Mesut Oezil and striker Mario Gomez announced their
international retirements.
Loew is expected to make changes when he announces his squad on
August 29 for the Nations League match against world champions France
in Munich on September 6 and a friendly against Peru three days
later.