Schweinsteiger raring to go

Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has declared himself fit and available for selection for Thursday’s Euro 2012 semi-final with Italy.

The Bayern Munich man has been beset by injury problems this season and gave his country a scare by sitting out the warm-up clash with Israel because of a calf problem.

Schweinsteiger has since featured in all four of Germany’s tournament outings to date, but admitted over the weekend that he has been struggling with an ankle problem that very nearly forced him to withdraw from Friday’s quarter-final win over Greece.

The 27-year-old insists, though, that he now feels 100 percent fit for the first time in weeks and is itching to start against the Azzurri in Warsaw.

“I’m very happy and I feel OK,” Schweinsteiger said. “I know how to deal with the situation. I’m looking forward to the game, and trying my best to be ready.

“I’m feeling better today (Monday). I feel fit enough to start, and I’m really eager to do so. When I say that I feel good, I mean it.”