Lahm unperturbed by Schweinsteiger's fitness problems

30-May-2012 11:57:00 PM

The Bayern Munich full-back believes his teammate at club and international level will be ready for the big kick-off, but points out that Joachim Low has other options anyway

GERMANY

GROUP A

HOW THEY QUALIFIED		P	PTS
	GERMANY	10	30
	TURKEY	10	17
	BELGIUM	10	15
	AUSTRIA	10	12
	AZERBAIJAN	10	7
	KAZAKHSTAN	10	4

Germany captain Philipp Lahm insists that he is not in the least bit concerned by Bastian Schweinsteiger's fitness ahead of Euro 2012, arguing that even if the influential midfielder is forced to withdraw, the 2008 runners-up have adequate cover.

Schweinsteiger is not currently training with his teammates as he struggles with a calf problem, but he is expected to be fit for his country's tournament opener against Portugal on June 9.

Lahm, therefore, is not unduly worried about the current uncertainty surrounding the participation of his Bayern Munich teammate in die Mannschaft's campaign.

"Of course you want players as experienced as Bastian fully fit going into this tournament," the full-back told reporters on Wednesday.

"But I'm assuming that he will be fit for the European Championships. And even if that is not the case, the team still has plenty of strength in depth in that position. So, I'm not worried."

Lahm, of course, is a certain starter for Germany but on which side of the defence he will be positioned remains unclear. The 28-year-old, though, does not mind where he ends up.

"I know that I can play at a high level on both sides," he explained. "I'm going to play on the left [against Israel on Thursday], which was decided by the coach.

"It is a big advantage that I can play on both sides and I'm very relaxed about this debate."

As for his team's chances of triumphing in Poland and Ukraine, Lahm is feeling upbeat, in light of their third-placed finish at the World Cup in South Africa two years ago.

"Every player who was with us in 2010 now has more experience and they are more confident," he reasoned. "We have a top team; we can achieve anything, that's for sure.

"But nothing is automatic and we must collect points from the very first game."

Germany and Portugal must also tackle Netherlands and Denmark in Euro 2012's 'Group of Death'.