Bastian Shveinshteiger Football player Country: Germany

1. Biography of Bastian Schweinsteiger
2. Early Career
3. Playing Style
4. Euro 2008 Expectations

Biography of Bastian Schweinsteiger

Bastian Schweinsteiger, a successful left midfielder, is one of the main hopes for the German national team in Euro 2008. He will undoubtedly try to become the top scorer or even the best player of the tournament. Schweinsteiger is young, in his prime, and has the trust of his team.

Early Career

Schweinsteiger's club career started at a young age. At just 14 years old, in 1998, he signed a contract with Bayern Munich's youth team. Four years later, he made his debut in the first team of the prestigious German club. Despite being only 24 years old, Schweinsteiger has already won almost all the tournaments in Europe. He is a three-time champion and three-time winner of the German Cup, as well as a bronze medalist in the World Cup. The only thing he lacks is club European titles, but it is expected that they will come soon, as Bayern Munich is currently considered the favorite to win the UEFA Cup.

Playing Style

Schweinsteiger cannot be called a prolific midfielder as his main task is to create goal opportunities for others. In 147 Bundesliga matches, he has scored only 15 goals. However, in the national team, Schweinsteiger is considered one of the main goal scorers. In 49 matches, he has scored 13 goals, with his first two goals coming against Russia. The German national team cannot imagine itself without Schweinsteiger, just like they couldn't without Michael Ballack or, in the past, Oliver Kahn and Lothar Matthaus. By the age of 22, he had already played 41 matches for the national team, nearly three times more than Matthaus, the record holder for the most appearances for the German national team (150).

Euro 2008 Expectations

In Euro 2008, the Germans are relying on Schweinsteiger as a player always ready to fight and as a leader capable of leading the team and making the game. In the quarterfinal match of the 2006 World Cup between Germany and Portugal (3-1), Schweinsteiger did everything for the Germans. He scored two goals and delivered a shot that deflected off one of the Portuguese defenders and into the net. Schweinsteiger's contract with Bayern Munich expires in 2009, so a successful performance in the European Championship will be an excellent reason for him to move to another league or at least secure a higher salary with Bayern Munich.