Germany captain Philipp Lahm believes Bastian Schweinsteiger will be fit for the team’s Euro 2012 semi-final clash against Italy.
The Bayern Munich midfielder, who has started each of Germany’s four Euro matches to date, has missed the team’s last three practice sessions and admitted on Sunday he had not yet recovered from an ankle injury.
It was feared Schweinsteiger would be forced to sit out the semi-final contest against Italy, but Lahm is backing him to win his race for fitness.
“It is true, having had to miss three training sessions makes things a bit unclear for him,” he told reporters at a press conference.
“We need fit players in the semi-finals, we cannot have anyone who is missing three or four per cent.
“Having said that, I do not worry much about Bastian Schweinsteiger’s fitness. He knows his body better than anyone else and I am sure he will be on that pitch on Thursday evening.”
Germany qualified for the semi-finals in Poland and Ukraine following a 4-2 victory against Greece in the quarter-finals, while Italy advanced to the last four courtesy of a penalty shoot-out victory against England after scores were locked at 0-0 after extra-time.
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