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Schweinsteiger optimistic about Euro 2016 fitness

May 25, 2016

Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger has said that he is confident that he will be fit for Euro 2016. However, his was not the only injury on coach Joachim Löw's mind as the team kicked off its Swiss training camp.

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Schweinsteiger auf der Pressekonferenz in Ascona
Image: Getty Images/Bongarts/M. Luzzani

Schweinsteiger was the first to appear at Germany's first press conference since arriving at the base for the training camp, at Ascona, Switzerland on Tuesday.

"I'm doing well, I am very confident," he told reporters on Wednesday, when asked about his progress in recovering from a knee injury. "I am trying to do a bit more day by day," he added.

The 31-year-old Manchester United midfielder suffered from various ailments over the course of the season, before sustaining a partial tear in his medial collateral ligament while training with the national team in March.

On Wednesday Schweinsteiger completed gym session, while two of his teammates who are also not yet fully fit, Sami Khedira and Thomas Müller, trained individually.

More injury woes

Adding to head coach Joachim Löw's concerns are newly signed Bayern Munich defender Mats Hummels, who is struggling with a calf issue, as well as his former teammate at Dortmund, Marco Reus, who has a groin injury.

"It's all a bit more difficult at the minute," the coach replied when asked about how difficult it was to assess his players.

Schweiz Trainingslager Nationalelf Fussball
Coach Löw says he will not risk aggravating injuries when picking his side for Sunday's friendlyImage: picture-alliance/dpa/C. Charisius

However, he insisted he not risk rushing anyone back to action before they were ready, despite the fact that Sunday's friendly against Slovakia in Augsburg will be his last chance to see his team in action before a May 31 deadline to cut his roster down to a final 23-man squad for Euro 2016.

Bayer Munich's Mario Götze, who missed Saturday's German Cup final with a broken rib, was part of a group of 16 players who trained together on the field on Wednesday.

Götze's commitment to Bayern a 'very good' decision

Both Löw and national team manager Oliver Bierhoff welcomed a statement from Götze on Monday, in which he said he was looking forward to playing in Munich next season, despite rumors of an impending transfer.

"There were inquiries and offers for Mario, but in our discussions I had the feeling that his heart is still in Munich and he wants to prove himself," Löw said.

Bierhoff described Götze's decision as "very good," telling the mass-circulation newspaper "Bild" that this would allow him to "concentrate completely" on the European championship.

Of the 27 players invited to the training camp, only Real Madrid's Toni Kross and Lukas Podolski have yet to arrive due to duties with their respective clubs.

pfd/ftm (SID, dpa, AFP)