Five facts on Toni Kroos

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Five facts on Toni Kroos

Five facts on Toni Kroos who scored two of Germany's seven goals on Tuesday in their record 7-1 mauling of hosts Brazil in the World Cup semi-final:

The reluctant Waiter who always delivers

Ironically it was the Brazilians who nicknamed him 'Garcon' (waiter) for his ability to deliver passes after 76 of 79 of his passes found their targets in the opening 4-0 win over Portugal. He accepted the sobriquet but only so far as football was concerned. "If you're talking about the term 'Garcon' in the sense of setting up my teammates with good passes, that's alright. "But when we're sitting around together in the evening, I'm not the waiter. I prefer to be served myself then."

Not a model student

He realised from a very early age his life was not meant to be for the class room but for the football pitch. Played truant on many occasions where he was to be seen kicking around a football. One of his teachers told Die Welt 'he did the bare minimum to graduate'. Fortunately his decision to prioritise football paid off and he broke into the Bayern Munich first team aged just 17. Indeed when he made his debut aged 17 years 8 months and 2 days in September 2007 he was the youngest ever player to appear for Bayern though that record has since been broken.

Manchester bound?

Former Manchester United star Paul Scholes said back in May Kroos was exactly the type of player the Red Devils needed if they are to challenge for titles after last season's debacle. There have been reports after Bayern refused his new wage demands that he had already agreed a 20million pound move prior to the World Cup. United fans will certainly hope so because his price will have soared since the finals began. He could face the Netherland's United-bound manager Louis van Gaal in the final on Sunday should the Dutch beat Argentina on Wednesday.

Problematic reunion with van Gaal

Should Kroos indeed be on his way to Old Trafford he will hope he has a happier time under van Gaal than the previous occasion at Bayern Munich. Having returned from a successful loan spell at Bayer Leverkusen where veteran coach Jupp Heynckes got the best out of him he failed to sparkle under the Dutchman. Van Gaal did not exploit his attacking and creative talents and resorted to a defensive midfielder role. However, once Heynckes assumed the reins at Bayern he blossomed and no coincidence he played a crucial role in the treble in the 2012/13 campaign -- the German domestic double and the Champions League.

Not Mr Perfect

The son of a footballing father and a former East German badminton ladies champion he has not always endeared himself to his coaches. Least of all to present Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola who left him out for two matches last term after he registered his annoyance at being substituted by throwing his gloves to the ground. German coach Joachim Loew, though, believes he has grown. "He's become more mature, more aware of his responsibilities," the 54-year-old coach said before the finals.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-07-09