Schweinsteiger on track for Euro 2012

Bastian Schweinsteiger has returned to full training with the rest of the Germany squad, participating in an open session on Monday.

Joachim Loew’s side arrived in Poland on Monday ahead of Euro 2012 and waited just three hours before starting their first training session at Lechia Gdansk Stadium.

The Bayern Munich midfielder joined up with the squad a week ago following his involvement in the Champions League final.

Schweinsteiger missed the 5-3 loss to Switzerland as he was still nursing a thigh injury.

However, the 27-year-old was given the all clear by the team’s medical staff to take part in the session, with Germany general manager Oliver Bierhoff confirming his return.

“The health department has given the green light.” Bierhoff said. “He can train normally again.”

The Euro 2008 runners-up will stay in Poland, despite their group matches being held in Ukraine, and Bierhoff thanked the locals for their warm welcome.

“We have been extremely well received and have excellent conditions. We look forward to the time in Poland and now ever say thank you for your hospitality,” Bierhoff said.

Germany begin their Euro 2012 campaign against Portugal on June 9, before playing the Netherlands and Denmark.

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/schweinsteiger-on-track-for-euro-2012/95873/

Germany arrive in Poland for Euros

The Germany squad have arrived in Poland four days before their opening Euro 2012 match.

Joachim Loew’s men arrived in Gdansk on Monday, where the team will be based for the tournament.

After checking in at the hotel, Germany had their first training on Polish soil at a local stadium in front of 10,000 spectators.

All 23 players took part in the practice session, including Bastian Schweinsteiger, who has suffered a series of fitness issues recently.

The Bayern Munich star has been passed fit for Germany’s Euro 2012 opener against Portugal on Saturday.

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/germany-arrive-in-poland-for-euros/95864/

Nani looks to prove fitness

Portugal winger Nani is hopeful of being fit for his nation’s opening Euro 2012 match against Germany.

Nani suffered a foot injury in Portugal’s 3-1 defeat to Turkey in an international friendly on Saturday.

“Yes, it was a scare. It was a very dangerous challenge, I was in a lot of pain, I still am a bit, but I think I will recover well in the next few days,” he told reporters.

“We will see when I return to Portugal’s camp. It may have caused a small strain. I believe I can play against Germany.”

The Manchester United midfielder has five days in which to continue his recovery before facing the Germans.

Group B also includes Denmark and Netherlands.

Nani has netted 13 times in 54 games for Portugal since making his debut six years ago as a teenager.

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/nani-looks-to-prove-fitness/95845/

No WAGs allowed, warns Neville World Soccer Shop

England coach Gary Neville has vowed that there will never be any repeat of the WAGs debacle at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Cheryl Cole: Proved an off-field distraction in 2006

As with this summer, six years ago, England opted to base themselves in an accessible location for a major tournament, the rather genteel spa resort of Baden Baden, close to the Black Forest.

However, England's presence was completely overshadowed by that of their glamorous wives and girlfriends, who became a magnet for photographers and a massive distraction.

Poland's second city Krakow may not hold the same appeal and, a combination of the logistical difficulties of getting to matches taking place in Ukraine - a two-hour flight away - and the potential for racism has led some families to make a decision to stay away altogether.

Whether the lure of Brazil in 2014 raises the WAGs issue once more is open to debate.

Neville, part of that England squad in Germany which bowed out to Portugal in a quarter-final penalty shoot-out, is confident those chaotic scenes are a thing of the past.

"That won't happen again," he said. "The FA learned from the experience in 2006. The England team did. The England players did.

"That wasn't ideal for anybody.

"It was symptomatic of the times. Between 2002 and 2007 everyone got carried away with everything in life.

"It is a different world now and those mistakes won't happen again under any manager or any regime. The platform won't be given.

"We are managing it this time in a completely different way. We are here to play football. We are here to work."

England's response to Baden Baden was to shut their players away in the relative isolation of Rustenburg in South Africa.

That did not work either, with many players complaining of boredom.

So, when they leave England on June 6, they will do so for the centre of a city with approximately 750,000 inhabitants.

Yet, according to Neville, this is the only way to replicate the normal day-to-day experiences of the England squad, and get the best out of them.

"Players would not pen themselves into a countryside location between a Saturday and Tuesday game for their clubs," he said.

"That is the big message, to have players doing what they would normally do.

"You can never replicate the home environment but in terms of being free to go for a coffee or to the shops - we should embrace it, even though it has never been done before."

Though he went to five major tournaments as a player during an 85-cap England career he regards as "a waste of time" in the sense of never winning anything, this will be Neville's first as a coach.

It represents a giant leap of faith from manager Roy Hodgson, who knows the 37-year-old has no relevant coaching experience.

Hodgson was attracted to Neville, though, because of his astute observations in his role as a TV pundit on Sky.

Yet, during that time, the former Manchester United full-back has made many forceful comments about most of the 23-man squad he is now trying to get the most from.

"I don't think the players are too fragile," said Neville. "Yes, at some point I will have highlighted a mistake from every player in this squad, or praised them.

"But football players are very honest.

"If someone makes a mistake in a big game millions around the world will have seen it, plus their own coaches, own fans, family, themselves.

"The last thing they will be worried about is me sat in a little glass box saying something.

"A lot more questions were being asked about me and my role at Sky 12 months ago.

"I had been at United for 20 years and I was still an ambassador. How was I ever going to talk openly and honestly about Manchester United's players and their opponents?

"I would like to think I have proved I am impartial and can speak openly.

"As long as you are fair and honest across the board I don't think anyone has a problem, although the real proof will come next season.

"That is when I have to prove I can handle both of these roles.

"But I am not worried about it at all."

Source : http://soccer365.com//news/european_news/general/17523/no_wags_allowed__warns_neville

Kuyt attracting Euro interest World Soccer Shop

Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt claims there are clubs in England, Germany, Spain and Italy interested in signing him this summer.

Kuyt: Set to leave Liverpool

Kuyt, 31, has a year to run on his Anfield contract, but seems destined to leave after a season in which he found first-team starts limited.

"There are many clubs who are interested," he told NUsport in Holland.

"Not only from England, also from Germany, Spain and Italy."

One club he has ruled out, however, are former side Feyenoord who would not be able to afford his wages.

"I have had several conversations with Feyenoord but we were unable to agree," he added.

"I did not want on my conscience that Feyenoord would have financial problems because of my salary.

"There were too many doubts on both sides. I've thought about it, but it is not the time to return. "

Source : http://soccer365.com//news/european_news/general/17449/kuyt_attracting_euro_interest

Loew tips Schweinsteiger to shine

Germany boss Joachim Loew expects Bastian Schweinsteiger to be fully fit for the start of their Euro 2012 campaign.

The Bayern Munich midfielder has been plagued by injuries in recent months and there are increasing doubts over what role he will play in Poland and Ukraine this summer.

Nonetheless, Loew is optimistic over Schweinsteiger’s availability for Germany’s curtain raiser against Portugal on June 9, but conceded that the 27-year-old may not feature in Thursday’s final warm-up clash against Israel.

“I do not know (if he will play) yet,” the coach told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday.

“He has a hematoma in the calf and this makes things difficult for him. Therefore, we must minimise the risk.

“He is not always training with the team, as you have to see how far he can go and how well he can deal with the pain. But he will have the necessary physical strength and power for the tournament.”

Loew then had some words of support for the four players who missed out on the final squad for Euro 2012, with 18-year-old midfielder Julian Draxler in particular receiving encouragement.

“They were all obviously incredibly disappointed,” he said.

“But we made our decision after much consideration, and we wanted to give players clarity on Monday, because you could feel their uncertainty.

“These are very young players. I told everyone that they have opened the door wide for themselves. Draxler, the youngest of the group, is a real winner from this camp.

“For us it is clear that these players are on the fringe of the squad, and will probably soon be with the national team.”

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/loew-tips-schweinsteiger-to-shine/95478/

Lahm poised for left-sided role World Soccer Shop

Skipper Philipp Lahm could be forced to lead Germany's quest for Euro 2012 glory away from his favoured right-back position.

Lahm: Germany skipper

Germany coach Joachim Low has revealed he is toying with the idea of switching the 85-cap veteran to the left side of defence as he attempts to balance his backline.

The experiment is set to begin in Thursday's friendly against Israel with Lahm's Bayern Munich team-mate Jerome Boateng slotting in at right-back.

Low will decide whether to employ his late tinkering on a more permanent basis next week, with their first Euro 2012 game against Portugal on June 9 in Lviv.

"Against Israel, Philipp will start on the left because I want to try something out but it means nothing as to how we will play against Portugal in the first group game," Low told a press conference.

"The decision on [where he will play at the Euros] will be taken next week.

"I see this game as a test for us because I want to try a few things to see how some players adapt to them."

Low's tactical change comes after his side lost a 5-3 defeat to Switzerland at the weekend, when he rested his Bayern stars after their involvement in the Champions League final.

With first-choice Holger Badstuber therefore absent, Mats Hummels and Per Mertesacker were paired at the heart of defence and, despite struggling, Low is confident of their ability.

"It may not have worked 100% in the co-ordination between [Mertesacker and Hummels] but the two can work outstandingly together," he said.

"All three play at a very good level as central defenders at the highest level internationally. We are in a position where they all fit well together, no matter who plays.

"What we need to do now is fine-tune those little nuances."

While Low is set to make changes for the Israel game, their last before they travel to Ukraine and Poland, he reiterated his desire to complete their preparations with a win.

"A good result, no doubt, is desirable as it would give us the push toward the tournament," he said.

"But the Euro euphoria with fans and in Germany will start climbing next week, regardless of the result against Israel."

Source : http://soccer365.com//news/european_news/general/17378/lahm_poised_for_left_sided_role

Loew names final Euro squad

Coach Joachim Loew has announced his final Germany squad for Euro 2012.

Loew has made four cuts, trimming his initial 27-man squad to 23 ahead of Tuesday’s deadline.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Julian Draxler, who made their debuts in Saturday’s 5-3 loss to Switzerland, have been cut, along with midfielder Sven Bender and striker Cacau.

The cuts mean that Manuel Neuer, Tim Wiese and Ron-Robert Zieler will be Loew’s goalkeepers, while only one Bender twin (Lars) will be available for selection.

Cacau’s omission leaves Loew with only Miroslav Klose and Mario Gomez as established strikers, with Marco Reus an option.

Germany kick-off their Euro 2012 campaign on June 9, against Portugal.

Squad: Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover).

Defenders: Holger Badstuber, Jerome Boateng (both Bayern Munich), Benedikt Howedes (Schalke), Mats Hummels (Dortmund), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal), Marcel Schmelzer (Dortmund).

Midfielders: Lars Bender (Leverkusen), Mario Gotze, Ilkay Gundogan (both Dortmund), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich).

Strikers: Mario Gomez, Thomas Muller (both Bayern Munich), Miroslav Klose (Lazio), Lukas Podolski (Koln), Marco Reus (Monchengladbach), Andre Schurrle (Leverkusen).

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/loew-names-final-euro-squad/95410/

Podolski: We'll be ready World Soccer Shop

Lukas Podolski says Germany will be fit when it counts after a succession of recent disappointments for Joachim Low's national team.

Podolski: No concerns

A 5-3 defeat to Switzerland at the weekend came a week after Bayern Munich lost the final of the Champions League and there could justifiably be a few dropped heads in the Germany camp, but Podolski trusts their tournament mentality to kick in when it matters.

The eight Bayern players in Low's preliminary 27-man squad were put through their paces in training for the first time after the Champions League final on Monday and that also gives Podolski reason to be optimistic.

"There is no doubt that with the eight Bayern players here, the quality improves," he said.

"They are top guys and we have missed them."

Their experience was certainly lacking on Saturday when Germany were humbled 5-3 by the Swiss.

Yet Podolski is not reading too much into that result, or the performance, as he focuses on Germany's first group game against Portugal on June 9.

"It has been the same in previous years, when we lost 4-1 to Italy (in 2006), for example," Podolski said on the website of the German Football Association (DFB).

"Of course defeats like this shouldn't happen and they hurt, and losing 5-3 to Switzerland is definitely not on, but I can promise there will be a different team on the field (against Portugal).

"We have got to live with the criticism. We are all focusing on Portugal and have got to be fit for that game, and we will be fit."

To take their minds of the defeat in Basle, 25 members of Low's squad paid a visit to the Monaco Grand Prix yesterday.

"It was a good day for us to get our heads free," said Podolski.

"I enjoyed it and the lads enjoyed it too, but now we are focusing on the Euros."

Source : http://soccer365.com//news/european_news/general/17305/podolski__we_ll_be_ready