There are few players in world football who can be deemed worthy of being referred to as ‘maestros’, and Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos can certainly count himself on that list.
The German international is known for possessing sublime technique and at his best, he effortlessly dictates the tempo of matches.
Undoubtedly, Kroos has plenty of teachings for any youngsters looking to get into the game, and thankfully he gave fans some insight into his free-kick technique.
In particular, the German recreated his iconic free-kick against Sweden and also talked viewers through the process.
Coming to us courtesy of his Twitter account, Kroos starts off by explaining the thought process behind the decision.
Free-kicks from that angle are normally directed into the box, hoping to be headed in by a teammate. However, the set-piece came in the final minute of the game, and with Germany facing an embarrassing early exit from the 2018 World Cup, Kroos decided to take matters into his own hands.
The German then shines a light on how he made the angle better, and talks a bit about the quick pass to Marco Reus before he wrapped his foot around the ball. According to the midfielder, the quick exchange opened up the angle and allowed for more room for the ball to curl into the far post.
But a quick pass isn’t enough to simply the set-piece as Kroos highlighted the importance of fast execution. He talks about his short run-up before the strike and how it helped speed things up, it also helped avoid any blocks by onrushing opposition players.
The video concludes with a few shots of Kroos recreating the effort to perfection, leaving no doubts for those thinking the incredible goal was a mere fluke.
Let’s train!!! https://t.co/8h7XXjdZ9W pic.twitter.com/YckmtNj9gE
— Toni Kroos (@ToniKroos) February 20, 2022