BRAZIL v GERMANY: Fit-again Schweinsteiger is ready to deliver for Germany

By John Bagratuni, dpa

Rio de Janeiro (dpa) - Bastian Schweinsteiger has shaken off all fitness doubts and is ready to play a key role in Germany's World Cup semi-final against hosts Brazil on Tuesday.

Schweinsteiger, and his midfield partner Sami Khedira, came to the World Cup not in their best shape in the wake of injury layoffs.

The 29-year-old Bayern Munich man was benched early in the tournament as Khedira and captain Philipp Lahm marshalled the midfield.

Schweinsteiger then played instead of Khedira before they were reunited on the pitch in the quarter-final against France, with Lahm returning to the right-back role again.

Coach Joachim Loew is expected to have the same scheme on Tuesday in Belo Horizonte to contain the Neymar-less record champions.

It will be Schweinsteiger's 107th cap.

He says he wants to be around for the 2018 edition as well, but given his age then, his fragile health, and the abundance of German midfield talent, Brazil 2014 may be the last realistic chance to lift an international trophy with the national team after near misses at various World Cups and European Championships since 2006.

"I have now played on a high level. I am ready to play for more than 90 minutes if necessary," Schweinsteiger insisted in the run-up to the game.

An ankle injury in the German cup final in mid-May endangered his participation in Brazil, but like Real Madrid's Khedira, who made a remarkable recovery from a ruptured cruciate knee ligament, Schweinsteiger is now fit, and playing well.

Loew told the German football federation website Monday that he always had faith in his key midfielders.

"You always have to weigh up the risks. I knew that both players would be important for us because of their quality. It was clear from the outset that we would gradually bring Sami and Bastian to the level we require in Brazil," Loew said.

The option of Lahm in midfield was the perfect back-up plan for Loew, and Schweinsteiger said he had no problem spending the early stages of the tournament on the subs bench.

"I shared the view of the coach. He made the right decision. The games are very exhausting. The way it went was ideal for me," he said.

The vice-captain also said that this is not about himself, but the entire team, in an effort to win a first international title since Euro 1996 and a first World Cup since 1990.

"It is not about one person. This is about Germany becoming world champions," he said.

Schweinsteiger says the team has more depth than in previous years as the golden generation of himself, Lahm and Lukas Podolski seek silverware - after he, Lahm and the other Munich players finally managed that a year ago on club level in the Champions League, after losing the 2010 and 2012 finals.

Schweinsteiger, who was denied by the post on the deciding penalty against Chelsea in the 2012 final in Munich's home stadium, says the national team is now ready to deliver too.

The team has taken another step forward since 2010. Every individual player has improved. The number of good players has risen as well," he said.