Schweinsteiger fit to face Slovakia

FCBayernNews · News fetcher Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 1361 votes: 2

10.10.2006

On Wednesday evening in Bratislava the German national team, with three Bayern players in the side, is aiming to build on the impetus from the World Cup and claim three more points on the way to the 2008 European Championship finals in Austria and Switzerland. A day before the qualifying game in Slovakia, Bastian Schweinsteiger reported fit after having complained of ear pain.

“I’m relieved that he feels better,” said national coach Joachim Löw, noting that the inflammation of the player’s auditory canal had substantially eased. That means that Schweinsteiger, who has excelled in the German midfield in recent games, can join his club colleagues Philipp Lahm and Lukas Podolski in the starting eleven. The latter is free to play despite his expulsion during Saturday’s friendly game against Georgia.

Ideal preparation

Ahead of their penultimate match of the World Cup year, the German team lies second in group D with a maximum six points, ahead of Slovakia with the same number of points from three games but behind the Czech Republic, who have taken all nine points from their three games. Although a draw in Slovakia would represent progress in the direction of Euro 2008, the coach wants more.

“We are going into this match very well prepared, and I think we are capable of opening up the way to the European Championship with a victory,” said Löw on the eve of the tricky game against the confident Slovaks, who raised eyebrows with a resounding 5-1 victory in Wales last Saturday.

Podolski sure to start

Bayern striker Podolski received a vote of confidence and an assurance of his place in the starting eleven despite his latest red card. “It’s down to all of us to protect Lukas,” Löw said. “He is one of the jewels in the crown of German football. I think it’s extraordinary what he brings to the team at the age of just 21.”

National team captain Michael Ballack urged the youngster to concentrate on the basics. “It is a very difficult situation for Lukas,” said the former Bayern midfielder before adding: “I wouldn’t say that he’s in a slump in form.”

Adventurous away from home too

For the German side, what awaits them in Slovan Bratislava’s small Teheiné Pole stadium will be a far dry from the fairy-tale days of the World Cup summer at home. Instead of thousands, there will only be a few hundred travelling fans to support the team, and the players will be up against determined opponents who have happy memories of their 2-0 victory last year.

The Germans have to go back 16 months for an away win against a better opponent than San Marino, the 4-1 victory in Northern Ireland, but Löw believes his team is better equipped to play away from home than in the recent past. “Sure, some of our away games before the World Cup went awry, but now we have taken a step forward,” he said. “That is to say, we are now capable of being adventurous away from home, too.”