"Cool it down, folks!" Toni and Felix Kroos defend Rüdiger amid global backlash
Toni and Felix Kroos appeal for compassion towards Rüdiger
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp E-Mail Print Copy Link In the Copa del Rey final, Real Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger's emotions boil over. The German footballer faces a wave of criticism for his conduct, with some demanding his dismissal from the national team. Former footballers Toni and Felix Kroos aren't having it.
Following Rüdiger's outburst in the Spanish Cup final, the national player attracts support from his former Real teammate Toni Kroos and his brother Felix. "He'll get his comeuppance, it'll be justified. But we don't need to treat him like he's committed murder," Toni Kroos shared at an Icon League event in Düsseldorf: "It's crucial to be cautious and not just follow the crowd."
Sports Rüdiger expresses remorse after Clasico incident DFB player goes berserk, hurls object at ref The 35-year-old Kroos reportedly spoke to Rüdiger post-game. "It was a major blunder, I think the evidence speaks for itself. He knows it, he's aware," said the long-time royal, a former Madrid player until last year.**
Rüdiger berated the referee and chucked an object at him just before the end of extra time in the cup final against Barcelona (2:3) over the weekend. The defender, who had been subbed out a few minutes earlier, was shown a red card for his actions and issued an apology the following day. Discussions are underway about whether Rüdiger should face consequences in the DFB team for his actions.
Football Rössgrave behavior How Antonio Rüdiger has become untouchable for the DFB team Toni Kroos isn't on board with those discussions. "Who's jumping on the bandwagon now, suggesting his expulsion from the national team and such nonsense? Especially, some of these people probably could've benefited from a ban themselves back in the day," said the ex-Bayern pro.
Felix Kroos echoed his brother's sentiments. "It's plain to see that he made a huge mistake and clearly overreacted at the Spanish Cup final. But all these virtue-signaling moralizers who are now calling for his dismissal from the national team and other extreme consequences, they're really starting to grind my gears!"
Sports "There's no gray area here" Felix Kroos admonishes and champions Antonio Rüdiger Speaking with ntv, Felix Kroos said: "A player who has delivered in the past and will be crucial in the future, I need to guide him on the right path so he can keep delivering and behave himself off the pitch." Punishing Rüdiger excessively is not the solution.**
Other former national players like Lothar Matthäus and Dietmar Hamann have been vocally critical of Rüdiger's behavior. Rudi Völler, the sports director of the football national team, commented on the incident, stating, "That's unacceptable. Particularly for a German national player. He needs to knuckle down and change that, and he knows it himself, as his public statement demonstrates."
Source: ntv.de, jpe/dpa
- Football National Team
- Real Madrid
- Football
- Toni Kroos
- Toni and Felix Kroos, along with other former footballers, have expressed support for Antonio Rüdiger following the backlash he received for his conduct during the Copa del Rey final.
- Toni Kroos spoke to Rüdiger post-game and stated that the defender was aware of his mistake, but he doesn't believe Rüdiger should be treated excessively or expelled from the national team.
- Felix Kroos agrees with his brother, stating that while Rüdiger made a mistake, the "virtue-signaling moralizers" who are calling for his dismissal from the national team are starting to grind his gears.
- The footballers' aid for the development of the regions, particularly Rüdiger, is not just about sports, but also about community aid, as they are championing for the player's rehabilitation and continued contribution to the team.
