Spain forward Joselu hopes to end former Real Madrid team-mate Toni Kroos' career by defeating Germany in Friday's Euro 2024 quarter-final. (More Football News)
Kroos and Joselu played together under Carlo Ancelotti's Los Blancos last campaign as the Germany international signed off his club car🥃eer with Champion🦂s League and LaLiga glory.
The 34-year-old midfielder has already confirmed the UEFA tournament on home soil will end his glittering playing days, as💫 an enticing last-eight clash awaitsཧ in Stuttgart.
J👍oselꦜu is aiming to put sentiment aside and force Kroos' hand into retirement when Luis de la Fuente's in-form side meet Julian Nagelsmann's hosts at Stuttgart Arena.
"It's a shame we have to send Ton🔯i into retirement like that, but hopefully we will win on Friday and it will be Toni's last game, for our own good," Joselu told a pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
"We have to believe in ourselves and not worry about another player... I love Toni, we care for him, but I think Friday is Toni's last ܫgame."
Kroos waved farewell to Madri𓃲d in May after the Champions Leagu🍌e final victory over Borussia Dortmund.
The former Bayern Munich man has carried that form into the Euros, completed 95% of his passes for⭕ Germany (411/431).
That is the highest completion rate by a playe꧂r to attempt 300+ passes at a European Championship tournament (since 1980), while he also leads all players at Euro 2024 for line-breaking passes (125).
"It's been a pleasure for me to play with 🔜him. I think he reflects all that is Real Mad⛄rid, the values of the club," added Joselu.
🀅"He's a fundamental player for Germany, as well as for Real Madrid, we need to keep an eye on him on Friday."
Having lost their first meeting with Spa🐻in on German soil (2-1 in a 1935 friendly), Germany are unbeaten in their last eight games agains♊t La Roja on their own turf (W5 D3).
Joselu suggeste𓂃d Nagelsmann's men are therefore the favourites, despite Spain going unbeaten against Germany in their last four major tournament clashes.
Friday will mark a poignant moment for Jos💮elu, too, as he returns to Stuttgart, where the forward was bor꧒n before leaving for Spain.
&qu🌞ot;On Friday, it will also be a special moment. My mother used to go to games at Stuttgart," he said.
"Representing my country is t꧅he maximum a footballer can achieve... I enjoy every day.
