Toni Kroos takes aim at Germany trio in sharp World Cup joke

Toni Kroos has mocked Germany internationals Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz and Aleksandar Pavlovic while discussing the squad Jurgen Klopp is due to announce on Thursday.

Kroos made the remarks on the podcast Einfach mal Luppen, which he presents with his brother Felix. The pair were discussing players who could be included in Germany’s squad for their upcoming Nations League fixtures.

Felix challenged his brother to name three players who had not featured at the most recent World Cup. Kroos, the former Real Madrid midfielder and 2014 World Cup winner, responded sarcastically.

“I have named three players who did not play at the World Cup: Pavlovic, Wirtz and Musiala,” he said, according to AS.

All three players were in Germany’s squad at the tournament, leaving Felix briefly confused by the answer. After several seconds, he asked: “What? What? Which World Cup did they not play in?”

He then understood the joke and replied: “Because they were not noticed, or what?”

Kroos was referring to what he regarded as the trio’s underwhelming performances at the tournament, where Germany were eliminated by Paraguay in the round of 32.

Kroos and Felix name their preferred youngsters

After the exchange, Kroos went on to name three players who did fit Felix’s criteria and whom he would like to see included in Klopp’s first Germany squad.

His choices were Tom Bischof and Lennart Karl, both of Bayern Munich, as well as Koln’s rising star Said El Mala.

Felix selected Yann Aurel Bisseck, Kevin Schade and Grisha Promel.

Germany are set to play four Nations League matches in the near future. Their opponents will be the Netherlands, Greece twice and Serbia.

The squad announcement is due to be made by Klopp on Thursday, with the selections expected to provide the first indication of the players he intends to use in the forthcoming fixtures.