Former German international Toni Kroos has taken a dig at Liverpool star Florian Wirtz and Bayern Munich duo Aleksandar Pavlovic and Jamal Musiala after a disappointing World Cup
Florian Wirtz in World Cup action for Germany.
Florian Wirtz in World Cup action for Germany.(Image: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Florian Wirtz is yet to show his full potential for Liverpool since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen, and former Germany international Toni Kroos has aimed a dig at the 23-year-old following the World Cup.
Julian Nagelsmann's team struggled at the tournament, exiting at the first knockout round. That led to Jurgen Klopp taking over, with his first matches in charge to come later this month.
But Kroos was not impressed with Wirtz and co. Speaking on his podcast, he sarcastically suggested that they made so little difference at the World Cup that they will be like new players for Klopp to inherit.
When asked which German stars who didn't go to the World Cup could step into the squad, Kroos, the former Bayern Munich and Real Madrid midfielder, replied: "(Aleksandar) Pavlovic, (Florian) Wirtz, and (Jamal) Musiala."
On the Einfach Mal Luppen podcast, Kroos' brother, Felix, was perplexed by his response before realizing that he was making a joke at the expense of the trio, who were expected to play much better.
After that joke answer, Toni Kroos named Tom Bischof, Lennart Karl, and Said El Mala as ones to watch under Klopp. Felix went for Yann Bisseck, Grischa Prommel, and Kevin Schade.
Florian Wirtz joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen last summer
Florian Wirtz joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen last summer(Image: Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Klopp is expected to name an expanded Germany roster for his first fixtures in charge. Die Mannschaft will take on the Netherlands, Greece (twice) and Serbia during an extended international break.
Wirtz was given a rest as Liverpool beat Tottenham in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday. The attacking midfielder is expected to come back into the starting XI at Bournemouth on Sunday.
"We can sit here and we can be positive about these players, but the fact of the matter is we want them to outshine and do better than the opposition," Reds legend Robbie Fowler said this week.
"A lot of the stats for Wirtz were that he’s run much more than his teammates in the other midfield positions, but you don’t really want him to be running back and picking up balls off center-halves.
"You want him to be doing all his good work in the final third of the pitch, which is obviously what Liverpool bought him for.
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"They brought him in to try and unlock defenses, and that’s where they’ve struggled in terms of when teams sit deep against Liverpool.
"I’ve said this for a few years now, Liverpool have struggled to break teams down, hence you spend £125 million-plus on players, and it hasn’t happened just yet.
"I think he’s neat and he’s tidy, Wirtz, and we give him all the plaudits for the right reasons, but he’s got to improve in terms of that final third for Liverpool."
Liverpool.com says: Wirtz has more than enough quality to step it up, and he has shown it in glimpses. The weekend's trip to Bournemouth, with gaps to run into, should be the kind of fixture that suits him and Alexander Isak.