The Germany national team is going through a shaky start in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, and one of its historic figures, Toni Kroos, did not hesitate to point out the flaws he sees in Julian Nagelsmann’s squad. The 2014 World Cup champion, who retired from football just a few months ago, was blunt in his assessment of the Mannschaft on the podcast Einfach mal Luppen, which he co-hosts with his brother.

A worrying start to qualifying

The defeat against Slovakia set off alarm bells. Although Germany followed up with a 3-1 win over Northern Ireland, criticism has not subsided. The Germans dominated possession but lacked depth and efficiency: only four shots on target out of 14 attempts. A stark contrast with their opponents’ clinical finishing, as they made the most of their limited chances.

For Kroos, the problem goes beyond statistics. The former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich midfielder argued that the lack of confidence and leadership on the pitch is what most weakens the group. “There are no players with that aura that transmits belief that solutions can be found. There’s a lack of conviction, quality, and understanding among the players,” he explained.

Kroos pessimistic about World Cup hopes

The midfielder held nothing back and was blunt about Germany’s short-term aspirations: “We are light years away from being able to fight for a title. Germany is very far from competing for a World Cup,” he stated. For Kroos, even with young talents like Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala, the national team still lacks the solidity needed to compete at the highest level.

Meanwhile, Julian Nagelsmann remains hopeful of turning things around in time. The coach has nine months to build an identity, bring the squad together, and recover the competitiveness that has always characterized Germany. The immediate goal will be to get through the upcoming fixtures in October and November and hope for slip-ups from Slovakia, who currently lead the group. Otherwise, the Mannschaft could be forced into the playoffs in March 2026.

Pressure on Germany is mounting, and while Toni Kroos’ words are a harsh reality check, they could also serve as motivation for a team that cannot afford another failure after recent international disappointments.