Schweinsteiger fit to face France in semis
Jul 6, 2016 - 7:35 PM Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger will lead his side against France in the Thursday's European Championship semi-final in Marseille after recovering from a knock to his injury-prone right knee."Schweinsteiger will definitely start," Germany coach Joachim Loew said on Wednesday.
"He has the physical conditioning and strength to play from the beginning. His experience is hugely important in such a cauldron."
The 31-year-old Schweinsteiger strained a ligament in his knee in Saturday's quarter-final win over Italy, but came through Wednesday's training session without any problems, before the squad left its tournament base for Marseille.
"He was able to do everything in the final training session today without any complaints at all. He's cured the injury," Loew said.
"If he isn't quite fit enough we have a lot of options to substitute him."
Defender Benedikt Hoewedes also trained Wednesday after sitting out the previous day's session.
Germany will certainly be without striker Mario Gomez and midfielder Sami Khedira through injury, and defender Mats Hummels, who is suspended.
Gomez is out for the rest of the tournament after tearing a muscle in his right thigh in the win over Italy, while Khedira faces a race against time to be fit for a possible final appearance with a groin injury from the same game.
Despite the absences, Germany forward Thomas Mueller believes the side has more than enough strength in depth to be able to compensate, and that it has nothing to fear against France.
"Fear has no place in the team," Mueller said.
"Of course France didn't reach the semi-final through luck, but because they have a lot of class.
"We have respect, but I'm always optimistic that we'll find solutions, even when we have absences. I don't think we've ever been as well-covered with the players waiting to come in."
Germany is bidding to follow its World Cup win with its fourth European title and its first since 1996.
"France are under a bit of pressure because they're hosts," Mueller said.
"They know they're playing against an excellent Germany team. France-Germany, they were two of the favourites already beforehand. And now they meet in the semi-final. You don't have many better football games."
Source: AAP
No one has shouted yet.
Be the first!
Be the first!
Related News
- Half-million dollar WC carrot for Germany Dec 13
- Arsenal's Mustafi injured in Cup duty Oct 8
- Low warns better yet to come from Germany Oct 6
- Germany to restore pride in Belfast: Low Oct 4
- World Cup defence will be hard: Klinsmann Oct 3
- No Neuer still as Germany name WCQ squad Aug 25
- Germany cruise to win over Nth Ireland Oct 11
- We ran them off their feet: Joachim Low Oct 8
- Germany open World Cup defence in style Sep 4
- Loew keeps faith in Germany Euro16 players Aug 26
- We deserved more, says Germany coach Loew Jul 7
- German church in Euro16 national colours Jul 7