Soccer:Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has been named in the German squad for next Friday's Group C World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin and the home game against Sweden.
Schweinsteiger was left out of Germany’s last two fixtures against the Faroe Islands and Austria last month due to a niggling injury, but the national team coach Joachim Loew has been convinced by his return to action in the Bundesliga with three goals in recent games.
“We did not choose him last time for a reason and that was to give him a chance in peace and quiet to get back into a training and match rhythm,” said Loew.
“His performances with Bayern have shown that this was precisely the right choice. I am delighted that Bastian is back with us. It was always certain that Bastian would be in the squad for Ireland and Sweden.”
The rest of Low’s 22-man squad is identical to the one which won their first two qualifying games last month with the exception of Julian Draxler’s inclusion. The young midfielder broke his arm in Schalke’s midweek Champions League draw with Montpellier.
“It is obviously a very bitter injury for Julian,” said Loew. “We all wish him a speedy recovery.”
Loew says it is going to be a crucial few days of qualifying action.
“We have already laid the foundations for the qualification, but now it gets very serious,” he said.
“We know that we are favourites in the group and that is why we want to be successful in both of these games.
“We know what to expect in terms of the atmosphere in Dublin. The Irish will give everything in front of their own fans to beat us in their own stadium.”
The visit of Sweden to the capital a week on Tuesday will be Germany’s final
home appointment of 2012 and Loew wants to “end the year with a win in front of our own fans.”
“It is not going to be easy, though,” he added. “Sweden don’t only have their world class striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but they also have an excellent team unity.”
German squad (with squad numbers)
Goalkeepers
1 Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)
22 Marc-André ter Stegen (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
12 Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover 96)
Defenders
14 Holger Badstuber (Bayern Munich)
20 Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich)
4 Benedikt Höwedes (FC Schalke)
5 Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund)
16 Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich)
17 Per Mertesacker (Arsenal)
3 Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund)
Midfielders
15 Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen)
19 Mario Götze (Borussia Dortmund)
23 Ilkay Gündogan (Borussia Dortmund)
6 Sami Khedira (Real Madrid)
18 Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich)
13 Thomas Müller (Bayern Munich)
8 Mesut Özil (Real Madrid)
10 Lukas Podolski (Arsenal)
21 Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund)
9 André Schürrle (Bayer Leverkusen)
7 Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich)
Striker
11 Miroslav Klose (Lazio)