RSS
ATOM
advertisement
Schweinsteiger: Portugal The Strongest Team At Euro 2008
Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger has heaped praise on tonight's Euro 2008 quarterfinal opponents Portugal, but is calling for no fear from his side, who have underachieved so far...
|
Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £100 in free bets! |
|
Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
Sign up with Paddy Power for a free bet up to £50 |
Jun 19, 2008 9:38:28 AM
Drawn in Group B with Croatia, co-hosts Austria and Poland, fortune certainly favoured the record three-time winners of the Euros Germany, but they barely made it count in progressing to the quarterfinal stage, with an unconvincing win over Austria and a dismal loss to Croatia cancelling out the good work begun in their solid opener against Poland.
It was in the Croatia defeat that Bastian Schweinsteiger saw red late on for a needless push, having only just come on as a substitute. "I did make a mistake against Croatia and I know that, but I will try and play my game and hope to make some positive contributions to help the team win this game," said the Bayern Munich midfielder.
"I think if we do win this game, then I will have played my part to help. We showed against Poland what we are capable of, but we also know that we can do even more and that is our biggest strength.
"Hopefully we can build on our good games, like away at the Czech Republic in the qualifiers. That game has got to be our benchmark."
With memories of the two sides' 2006 World Cup meeting in the third place play-off still relatively fresh in the memory, Schweinsteiger still revels in his two goals that led his side to a 3-1 victory on home soil, but admits Portugal have become stronger in the past two years - hailing them the strongest team in the tournament - without going as far as to suggest whether he believes his own team have improved or not.
"It is a new game and Portugal have changed a lot from then and it will be a lot more difficult than in 2006," he insisted. "They are more mature and, for me, they are the strongest team at Euro 2008. I expect it to be a very difficult game for us.
"Portugal have had one day more to recover than us, but that should not play a role. We have got to put our foot down from the very beginning.
"I don't think we have to be fearful in any way. It is a new game, a knockout game, and we have the right attitude for it. They are the big favourites for the title and, except for their last game [which a second string lost 2-0 to Switzerland in a dead rubber], they have played excellently and it will be very hard to beat them."
Hans Schmidt, Goal.com
It was in the Croatia defeat that Bastian Schweinsteiger saw red late on for a needless push, having only just come on as a substitute. "I did make a mistake against Croatia and I know that, but I will try and play my game and hope to make some positive contributions to help the team win this game," said the Bayern Munich midfielder.
"I think if we do win this game, then I will have played my part to help. We showed against Poland what we are capable of, but we also know that we can do even more and that is our biggest strength.
"Hopefully we can build on our good games, like away at the Czech Republic in the qualifiers. That game has got to be our benchmark."
With memories of the two sides' 2006 World Cup meeting in the third place play-off still relatively fresh in the memory, Schweinsteiger still revels in his two goals that led his side to a 3-1 victory on home soil, but admits Portugal have become stronger in the past two years - hailing them the strongest team in the tournament - without going as far as to suggest whether he believes his own team have improved or not.
"It is a new game and Portugal have changed a lot from then and it will be a lot more difficult than in 2006," he insisted. "They are more mature and, for me, they are the strongest team at Euro 2008. I expect it to be a very difficult game for us.
"Portugal have had one day more to recover than us, but that should not play a role. We have got to put our foot down from the very beginning.
"I don't think we have to be fearful in any way. It is a new game, a knockout game, and we have the right attitude for it. They are the big favourites for the title and, except for their last game [which a second string lost 2-0 to Switzerland in a dead rubber], they have played excellently and it will be very hard to beat them."
Hans Schmidt, Goal.com
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £100 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power for a free bet up to £50 |
|
Advertisement
Inside Goal.Com
-
Foolish & spiteful Suarez lets Liverpool down
The Uruguayan striker snubbed the Manchester United defender before Saturday's clash, the first meeting of the players after the ex-Ajax star was banned for racist abuse
-
Two good - Rooney settles fierce Liverpool clash
The England striker has combined with Danny Welbeck to great effect this season and surpassed the 20-goal mark with another match-winning display in the 2-1 win at Old Trafford
-
The factors that will decide the 2012 Afcon final
As the final two left standing in the Cup of Nations get ready to face each other in Libreville on Sunday night, Goal.com looks at the battles that might help determine the victor
-
Perfect day for Arsenal thanks to Henry goal
Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has left the door open for a return to the Emirates and it's no wonder because the French striker has galvanised the Emirates as AC Milan loom
-
Should 'Vanishing Spray' be introduced globally?
The spray, which has been designed to stop defensive walls from encroaching closer than 10 yards to the ball at free-kicks, is set to be discussed at next month's IFAB meeting
Advertisement
Advertisement
