Germany star Bastian Schweinsteiger is doubtful for Thursday's Euro 2012 warm-up against Israel in Leipzig as he recovers from the effects of the Champions League final, coach Joachinm Loew said Tuesday.
The midfielder is carrying a calf strain after his missed spot-kick in the penalty shoot-out against Chelsea in the final on May 19 helped hand the Blues their first European title at Bayern Munich's expense.
Germany coach Joachim Loew says he is not sure whether the 27-year-old will play their final warm-up game, but is confident Schweinsteiger will be fit for the opening Group B match against Portugal in Lviv, Ukraine, on June 9.
"I will not use a battered player," said Loew from Germany's training camp in Tourrettes, France, as Schweinsteiger recovers from a demanding season.
"He is doing some individual training at the moment and I am sure he is physically and psychologically strong enough to put the injuries of last season behind him."
Schweinsteiger is coming off the back of a tough season for Bayern having suffered a broken collarbone and torn ankle ligaments and was one of Munich's eight Germany stars who joined the national squad at the weekend.
Germany lost 5-3 to Switzerland on Saturday in a warm-up friendly with Loew looking for a win to boost confidence and says he will use the match to decide whether to play captain Philipp Lahm at left or right-back at the Euro.
"I still see this game as a test, a good result in Leipzig would certainly be desirable, but euphoria over the Euro will break out regardless of the outcome," he said.
Loew released Brazil-born striker Cacau, midfielders Julian Draxler and Sven Bender, and goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen on Monday and admitted it had been a hard decision to trim down for the final Euro 2012 squad.
Source: AFP
