Reigning European champions Real Madrid have announced their 23-man squad for the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup and German international Toni Kroos has been included in the side as the midfielder made a quicker recovery from a fractured metatarsal he suffered during Real Madrid’s win over Leganes last month.
Kroos had suffered an avulsion fracture in his right foot and was expected to be sidelined until the new year. However, the 26-year-old made a speedy recovery and now could make the journey to Japan along with the rest of the Los Blancos squad to participate in the prestigious competition.
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Only five players have three FIFA World Cup winner’s medals in their locker and Kroos, along with Real Madrid’s talisman Cristiano Ronaldo, would be hoping to join that list. Both of them were instrumental in Real’s success in the tournament held at Morocco in 2014. Kroos had won the tournament in 2013 with Bayern Munich and Ronaldo won it with Manchester United in 2008.
Also read: Toni Kroos picks the two Real Madrid players who he would like in the German national team
Spanish striker Alvaro Morata has also been named in the squad despite his injury concerns. The 24-year-old suffered a hamstring injury during Spain’s 2-2 draw with England in November. Morata was in good form since his return to the club in the summer scoring 8 goals in 17 appearances. He missed the Madrid derby and will also be absent from the El Clasico.
Real Madrid fans would be glad about the inclusion of Kroos and Morata in the squad but would also be disappointed that Wales international Gareth Bale is ruled out of the tournament. The 27-year-old picked up an ankle injury during Real Madrid’s Champions League clash against Sporting Lisbon and will only be back in action next month.
The 11-time European champions are making their third appearance in the Club World Cup and were crowned champions in 2014 when they beat San Lorenzo in the final. Real Madrid’s first game of the tournament is on December 15th and the Los Blancos will play the winner of the match between South Korean club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Mexican side Club América at the International Stadium in Yokohama.
Real Madrid’s 23 man FIFA Club World Cup squad:
GK: Keylor Navas, Kiko Casilla, Rubén Yáñez.
DEF: Daniel Carvajal, Nacho Fernandez, Raphael Varane, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Fabio Coentrao, Danilo.
MID: Toni Kroos, Mateo Kovacic, Luka Modric, Casemiro, Isco, James Rodríguez, Marco Asensio.
ATT: Karim Benzema, Alvaro Morata, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lucas Vázquez, Mariano.
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