Germany arrived in Gdansk for Euro 2012 yesterday with key midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger having received a clean bill of health and coach Joachim Loew in a confident mood.
“The longing for a title is as great as ever in all of us. We will do everything to win it,” said Loew before his team arrived at their secluded five star hotel.
Germany are based in the Baltic port of Gdansk, Poland, for the duration of Euro 2012, which starts on Friday with the final in Kiev on July 1, with all their Group B games taking place in Ukraine.
The Germans have had minor setbacks in their final preparations after a largely second string team suffered a shock 5-3 defeat to Switzerland at the end of May, while midfielder Schweinsteiger has been trying to recover from a calf strain.
The 27-year-old is in a core group of players central to Loew’s hopes of bringing home a fourth European crown, having last lifted the title in 1996 after also winning the 1972 and 1980 tournaments.
Schweinsteiger strained his left calf a fortnight ago when Bayern Munich lost the Champions League final 4-3 on penalties to Chelsea as his missed spot-kick in the shoot-out helped the Blues seal victory.
Germany are among the pre-tournament favourites and open their campaign in Lviv, Ukraine, on Saturday against Portugal with Schweinsteiger having been given the green light to play.
“Bastian has no problems, no more pain,” German team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt told Munich-based newspaper TZ after Schweinsteiger spent the weekend relaxing in Italy with his model girlfriend Sarah Brandner.
“Of course, he has a bit of catching up to do, but I assume he will be fully fit to face Portugal.”
After giving his players the weekend to relax before the three-week long tournament, Loew was upbeat.
“There is no reason not to look forward to these championships,” said the 52-year-old, who will be looking to land his first trophy as German coach after taking them to the Euro 2008 final and third at the 2010 World Cup.
“We’re ready, we’ve trained well and we are happy that it’s about to start.
“On Friday, we will decide who will play against Portugal with plenty of enthusiasm.”