Former midfielder Toni Kroos slams Germany players after scrappy win over Ghana

Former Germany midfielder Toni Kroos has delivered a sharp critique of the national team following their narrow 2-1 victory over Ghana in Stuttgart on Monday, insisting the performance fell well short of the standards expected of a football powerhouse.

Although Germany managed to secure the win in the international friendly, Kroos was unimpressed, particularly with the team’s display in midfield—a department long regarded as the hallmark of German football.

“Germany used to be known for its midfield. It’s a disgrace to see Ghana outplay us there. We looked average today—it was just a lucky win,” he said.

The World Cup-winning midfielder, renowned for his composure and precision during his playing career, also questioned the team’s tactical structure and lack of attacking sharpness.

In his view, Germany lacked control in key phases of the game and squandered several clear scoring opportunities, preventing them from dominating proceedings.

“You can’t win the World Cup playing like this. Joshua Kimmich should be playing in midfield. We also wasted too many chances. I expected more from the team,” the former Real Madrid midfielder added.

His comments come amid ongoing scrutiny of Germany’s form, as the team continues to search for consistency after a series of uneven results in recent international fixtures.

The performance against Ghana—despite the result—has intensified concerns over cohesion, creativity, and composure in the final third.