Soccer:Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has demanded more respect for the national team's performances after reaching the Euro 2012 semi-finals in June, their fourth successive last-four spot or better in major tournaments.
Schweinsteiger, criticised for playing in the European Championship despite nursing an injury picked up in Bayern Munich's Champions League final defeat by Chelsea, said Germany's overall record was very successful.
“(Semi-final finishes) should not be taken for granted,” the midfielder told reporters in Dublin today ahead of the World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland on Friday. We did not drop a point in the qualifiers, we beat top 10 teams in our group and then lost just one game.”
“I think it is a pity, it is not always fair but that is the way it is. There are other teams who have targets and it is not easy to keep winning,”
Germany completed their first ever perfect Euro group stage with wins over Portugal, Netherlands and Denmark before beating Greece in the quarter-finals for their 14th successive victory in competitive games. They had also won 10 out of 10 qualifiers for a new German record.
“I don’t think everything is bad, not many teams can claim to have such a track record. I think the respect is missing a bit. It is nowhere written down that we are going to win every game. I did everything to reach that Champions League final and (for the Euros) I had little time to recuperate,” added the 28-year-old, who missed his team's first two Group C qualifiers in September, but will be captain the side at the Aviva with
Philipp Lahm suspended.
“Two or three weeks more maybe would have been even better for the injury to be cured but I think I gave everything I got at the Euro. Unfortunately in one game against a great team Italy we lost.”
The national team have been criticised since that defeat for failing to clinch a major trophy in 16 years while coach Joachim Loew has been accused by Bayern Munich President Uli Hoeness of being too soft with his players.
“The team is working well and that means I can now focus more on my game,” he said. “I feel fit and healthy.”
Schweinsteiger still has fond memories of his last trip to Dublin back in 2007, when Germany drew 0-0 at Croke Park having already achieved qualification for the 2008 European Championships.
“It is a special feeling playing there. "The atmosphere is different, it has this special something.
“We had the joy of playing there five years ago and it is difficult to win there. It would be a huge advantage to get the three points but they are a tough team with a clever fox of a coach (Giovanni Trapattoni).”
