LILLE, France (AP) Since making his debut for Germany just months before the 2010 World Cup, Toni Kroos has quietly gone about becoming one of the team's leaders, and an undisputed star.
Fresh from helping Real Madrid win the Champions League, Kroos is now one of the candidates to be captain when Germany opens its European Championship campaign against Ukraine in Lille on Sunday.
Despite being only 26, the unassuming midfielder is one of the first players his teammates seek when looking to play the ball. Kroos exudes calm, plays at his own tempo, initiates the game and provides a reliable link between defense and attack.