Before Toni Kroos retires, he grabs another game. Germany’s Euro 2024 title quest seems more plausible than it has ever been.

With six Champions League medals and a World Cup, Kroos was among the most decorated modern soccer players; he was a calm, assured presence keeping the midfield together as Germany defeated Denmark 2-0 on Saturday.

This season Kroos already won the Champions League with Real Madrid. Now he’s three games away from one final trophy and might face Spain’s Dani Carvajal, a colleague in Madrid, in his next game.Some supporters sung about traveling to Berlin as Germany saw out the victory, already focused on the final in the German city.

Like another Real Madrid great, Kroos is completing his legendary career at a big event in Germany. In February, he emerged from international retirement for one final competition. Every game Germany contests in the knockout level might mark the end of his career.

Germany survived a downpour, hail, and fierce Danish opposition Saturday to guarantee the 34-year-old midfielder will play once more. In the quarterfinals July 5 Germany must contend with either Spain or Georgia.

Reaching the 2006 World Cup final with France, Zidane headbutt an opponent, received a red card, and lost to Italy. Since Kroos and his colleagues raised the 2014 World Cup, Kroos and Germany might still dream of a first major prize on home ground.

Germany have not won a major-tourn knockout game since Euro 2016 until the Denmark matchup. The victory carries the hope that, following years of disappointment, Germany is at last turning things around under Coach Julian Nagelsmann. Having taken over last year with an aim to present a host-nation success narrative at Euro 2024, he has already negotiated an extension for the World Cup 2026.

The choice to extend Nagelsmann in April was mostly motivated by friendly victories over France and the Netherlands, therefore improving morale. Germany has been perfect in six games since then, including friendlies before the championship.

“I´m happy with the team,” Nagelsmann remarked Saturday. “They’re starting to understand how good they truly are.”