Germany are set to arrive in Gdansk for Euro 2012 today with key midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger having received a clean bill of health and coach Joachim Loew in a confident mood.
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 weakened team suffered a shock 5-3 defeat to Switzerland last weekend, while midfield star Schweinsteiger is recovering 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 amongst 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.
“He will be treated further and we assume he will train with the team for the first time on Monday (today).
“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 set to board this afternoon’s flight from Frankfurt in a confident mood.
“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 the 2010 World Cup semi-finals.
“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.”