Schweinsteiger fit to face Azzurri, says confident Löw
The midfielder has been struggling with an ankle problem and Löw admitted he was “poor” in the 4-2 quarter-final victory over Greece.
But the Bayern Munich player was able to play a full part in training yesterday and is set to retain his place.
“Schweinsteiger had problems, but it’s not as if these were hindering him,” Löw said. “Against Greece he was poor, but he realises that himself. Against Italy, that won’t happen.
“There are only 100% fit players. No player will run out if he is only operating at 80 or 90% capacity.
“All players are fit, I assume Schweinsteiger will play.”
Perhaps Löw’s biggest selection dilemma is over which of Mario Gomez or Miroslav Klose to play up front.
“I am assuming that I will play,” the experienced Klose said. “That’s what I am preparing for in any case. But we are lucky to have two top strikers. We’ll wait and see which one the coach will pick.”
Meanwhile, England manager Roy Hodgson has received forceful backing from Low — and claimed the side Fabio Capello sent out to face him at the 2010 World Cup had “a lot of problems”.
Capello has been wading back into choppy England waters again over the past few days, having what Hodgson described as a “cheap” attack on Wayne Rooney over his performances for the national team.
Rooney was part of the England side ripped apart by the Germans in Bloemfontein two years ago, beaten 4-1 in a one-sided last-16 encounter.
Capello refused to acknowledge the severity of that defeat, preferring instead to concentrate on the wrongly disallowed Frank Lampard goal that would have levelled the match, rather than the fact his team were comprehensively outplayed.
Löw certainly knew it — and he clearly has not forgotten.
When asked how it was that Germany tended to remain at major tournaments after England had gone home, his observations came with backing for Hodgson.
“I don’t know why,” he said. “It’s hard to answer.
“The English were much better in this tournament than in 2010.
“When they played us then, they were a team who had a lot of problems.
“Roy Hodgson has brought order into the side and has done a great job.
“[At Euro 2012] they were a very well organised team.
“England will develop under him in the next few years and, in the next tournament, they’ll play a better role than they did here and certainly than they did in 2010.”
Those words will provide comfort both to Hodgson as he starts preparations ahead of this autumn’s World Cup qualifying programme, but also the Football Association, who shocked most observers by choosing the 64-year-old ahead of overwhelming favourite Harry Redknapp.
Not that Löw refrained from implied criticism of England’s performance against Italy in Kiev on Sunday when, yet again, they failed to impose themselves on the international stage.
“We saw the game,” said Löw. “After 60 or 70 minutes, Italy just got stronger and stronger and had more and more chances.
“In extra-time, Italy were dominant and England physically got weaker.”
It seems fairly obvious Germany will not be allowing Andrea Pirlo the amount of space he got in Kiev.
Low may be a big admirer of the Juventus midfielder, but he intends for Germany to take the initiative from him tonight.
“Pirlo is not just a very good player, but the player who dictates the tactics and gives the team their ideas,” said Löw.
“He’s the Italian player who directs the game.
“We have to disturb him, stop him playing, get in his way, and think of a way how we can do better than Italy in midfield.
“We have to dictate the tempo of the match upon the Italians.
“I think we’ll be able to do that.”
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