June 23, 2018; Sochi, Russia; Germany midfielder Toni Kroos (8) celebrates the victory against Sweden following Group F play during the FIFA World Cup 2018 at Fisht Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Groothuis/Witters Sport via USA TODAY Sports

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Toni Kroos Admits Germany Are ‘Miles Away’ From Winning World Cup Title

Germany’s disappointing start to the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign has drawn strong criticism from one of its greatest midfielders, Toni Kroos. The retired 2014 World Cup winner believes that Julian Nagelsmann’s squad is nowhere near winning World Cup. However, the former Real Madrid midfielder insisted that Germany’s fortunes could shift before next year’s tournament.

Germany, drawn alongside Slovakia, Northern Ireland and Luxembourg, were expected to cruise through World Cup qualifying. But they sit three points behind Slovakia already. Germany’s qualifying campaign began with a shock 2-0 defeat to Slovakia, sending alarm bells ringing across the country.

Although they bounced back with a 3-1 win over Northern Ireland on Sunday, the victory was far from convincing. The two sides were level until the 69th minute when Nadiem Amiri and Florian Wirtz struck in quick succession.

Speaking on the Einfach mal Luppen podcast he co-hosts with his brother Felix, Kroos was brutally honest about the Mannschaft’s struggles. “It’s true that we’re currently miles away from talking about the World Cup title,” the ex-Bayern Munich star said. “But that wasn’t this summer, it is next summer. As things stand, we’re really not doing well, but in the summer, let’s get the right players fit.”

Germany Don’t Have 50 Top Players To Choose From: Kroos

Kroos, who lifted the World Cup in 2014 and won six Champions League titles (five with Real Madrid), stressed that international football can turn quickly. He recalled how Madrid were often written off in autumn, only to peak in May. “In football, things can look very different by the time the tournament comes around,” he noted.

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Key injuries have also played their part, with stars like Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz and Nico Schlotterbeck sidelined. Kroos highlighted Germany’s lack of depth as he said,

“We don’t have 50 top players to choose from. If it goes one step above international class then it gets tight. With the games they have ahead, it should still be enough [to qualify].”

🚨🗣️ Toni Kroos: "The German national team? Currently, we do not have a group of 50 world-class players. We're just scraping by. We must not forget that currently, we are not among those who can have great ambitions."

"There are others who are simply better. We are light years… pic.twitter.com/HWwyrcsxV3
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) September 10, 2025

Also Read: Christian Eriksen Seals Move to Wolfsburg as a Free Agent

Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany faces an uphill task to restore confidence. Their qualification may not be under serious threat, but the challenge now will be to rebuild belief and ensure that the four-time world champions head into 2026 World Cup as genuine contenders.

2026 World Cup

Germany

Julian Nagelsmann

Toni Kroos

Abhinav Goel

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I am a soccer writer at The PlayOffs, covering everything from match analysis to transfer buzz and tactical deep dives. Ever since I was a kid, soccer has been more than just a sport to me—it’s been an obsession. Playing and watching the game from a young age fueled my passion, eventually leading me into the world of sports media and betting. Now, I get to analyze the sport I love and bring the latest updates to fans worldwide.