Schweinsteiger salutes Gomez

Mario Gomez has long since been one of the world’s best strikers and not just because he has scored three goals so far at Euro 2012, according to his team-mate Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Gomez’s goals have given Germany a perfect start to Euro 2012 with a 1-0 win over Portugal and Wednesday’s 2-1 victory over the Netherlands putting them on the brink of qualification for the knockout stages.

Schweinsteiger, who plays alongside Gomez for both club and country, says he is not surprised by Gomez’s form, although he admits he was “shocked” by how well Germany’s number nine took his first goal against the Dutch.

“Mario has played a great season for Bayern Munich and, as we saw against Portugal and Holland, he is very important for the team with his goals,” said the Bayern and Germany midfielder.

“To be honest, we did not expect him to take the ball like that and score. I was a bit shocked to begin with. If he keeps doing that, we have to be careful he doesn’t defect to Brazil.

“It’s important for us that we have a striker who needs hardly any chance to score a goal. At the moment, we have the feeling that when we send the ball forwards, Mario is always there.”

Germany’s impressive displays have not been only about Gomez, though, and Schweinsteiger also praised the rest of his team-mates, even those who have not been involved much yet, for putting Germany just a point away from the last eight.

“I think we have not only a good bench but a very, very good bench,” he said. “There are other players in the squad too — Miroslav Klose, for example, is also important for the team. I think other nations would be delighted to have two strikers like them.”

Germany still have work to do, though, with the prospect of being eliminated from the competition despite winning their opening two matches still alive.

Should Germany lose to Denmark in their final group game, Portugal could overtake them at the top of the group on goal difference if they beat the Netherlands

“It will not be easy against Denmark,” added Schweinsteiger. “They can qualify with a win so it is not going to be easy and they will be very defensive and that means we are going to have to be a bit patient.”

Gomez may be making the headlines but Schweinsteiger also said the defensive lessons learned from Barcelona and Spain that have laid the platform.

Until Robin van Persie pulled one back for the Netherlands, Germany were the only side at Euro 2012 yet to concede. Schweinsteiger revealed that keeping clean sheets had always been an aim for Joachim Loew’s men, even when they were plundering 34 goals in 10 qualifiers.

“The teams that defend well in this tournament will go far. In many situations when you are attacking, you already have to start thinking about what happens once the ball is lost. As a defensive player, you already have to watch the opposing attackers and ask yourself what could happen when the ball is lost.”

The 27-year-old draws inspiration from Spain, a team that won all their knockout matches at the 2010 World Cup 1-0. “If you look at the ideal example, Barcelona or Spain, you can see how good their defenders are at setting up, even while they still have possession. That is perfect defending. Indeed, it is not about parking the bus; it is about staying one step ahead of your opponent.”

A veteran of four major international tournaments, Schweinsteiger says the current side profited from their own experiences of South Africa two years ago. Many players now have tournament experience. “We are a bit more mature now. Yesterday, with the hot weather, we rested while we had possession. We played simple, clever passes and managed to get in front of goal. Maybe in future matches we can better showcase our style.”