WARSAW: Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger will be fit to play for Germany against Italy in Euro 2012’s second semi-final in Warsaw after recovering from an ankle injury he collected in the group stage.

Coach Joachim Low, after monitoring Schewinsteiger in training, said: “He has had problems but it’s not as if these were hindering him. Against Greece he was poor, but he realises that himself. Against Italy that won’t happen. We will have only 100pc fit players. No player will run out if he is only operating at 80 or 90pc. All players are fit, I assume Schweinsteiger will play.”

Germany, the favourites along with Spain to win the European Championship, are the only team to have won every game in the competition. They will continue to play the tournament their way. Hence Low has ruled out the idea of man-on-man marking strategy to deal with Italy playmaker Andrea Pirlo.

He said: “That would make no sense. The Italians have made excellent progress since 2010 and a lot of quality. But we also know where their weaknesses lie, where they have their problems. We have to bring our own game, not focus so much on the opponents. If we manage to do that, then we have a good chance.”

Low’s only selection dilemma is over which of Mario Gomez or Miroslav Klose to play up front. Gomez is the joint top-scorer in the tournament with three goals but, in the 4-2 semi-final win over Greece, Klose started and also scored.

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