Low understands Kroos' unhappiness at back-up role

Jun 17, 2012 10:05:00 AM

The Germany trainer is sympathetic of the Bayern Munich midfielder's wish to get more playing time with the national team at Euro 2012

Joachim Low has said that he finds it normal that back-up players such as Toni Kroos complain at their lack of opportunities to start for Germanyat Euro 2012.

Cristian Nyari
Germany Expert

Kroos' recent statements about his dissatisfaction with not starting come as no surprise. Similarly, Marco Reus voiced his desire to play yesterday and said that he is uncomfortable on the bench and does not know what to do with himself.

But rather than that being a cause for concern, it is indicative of the players' desire to participate and eagerness to prove themselves.

Low said he wants to create a competitive atmosphere within the team which pushes each player. Despite Kroos and Reus' statements, both prioritise the team ahead of themselves.

The 22-year-old, who has become a regular starter at club level, admitted that he was frustrated at being restricted to a part-time contribution, having been used twice as a substitute to Mesut Ozil in both of his side's games at the tournament.

The Mannschaft trainer has selected an identical midfield to the one that took the 2010 World Cup by storm, leaving the likes of Kroos on the substitutes' bench, but maintains that he understands his squad players' plight.

"I do not know whether that is a complaint," Low told Ruhr Nachrichten. "He said that he is unhappy to not be playing. To me, this is perfectly normal. I would not want to magnify that, I am not oversensitive.

"For a player of his calibre to be unhappy with the situation is clear. This also holds for the likes of Marco Reus, Andre Schurrle, Per Mertesacker and Miroslav Klose, who are all stalwarts in their respective clubs."

Asked about the atmosphere at training, the 52-year-old had only nice words to say about the substitutes competing for a spot in the starting line-up.

"They all behave correctly. I see a real desire to play. We have a great bench. There will be situations when we will have to make headway. Then, we will be in need of everyone."

Meanwhile, Low has been at the centre of a controversy with Uefa as he did not wish to attend a press conference scheduled on the eve of his side's game against Denmark in Lviv.

He cited the distance between the Lemberg Stadium and die Mannschaft's training ground as reason for sending team manager Oliver Bierhoff instead, before the governing body intervened and forced him to go.

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