Bastian Schweinsteiger will bring down the curtains on an illustrious career with the German national team in their friendly against Finland in Monchengladbach tomorrow night. The midfielder, who made his debut for Die Mannschaft in 2004 against Hungary (a game Rudi Voller’s side lost 2-0), has earned 120 caps for the national team, and will captain the side in his final international appearance at Stadion IM Borussia Park. Low is then expected to appoint the country’s next skipper after the game, with Manuel Neuer and Jerome Boateng expected to be the favourites to take over the armband.
The Finnish friendly was also supposed to be a farewell game for Lukas Podolski, but the forward has injured himself and his final game will therefore be postponed to March next year
Schweinsteiger picked up 84 caps in his first seven years with Germany, but only 36 in the next six, placing him fourth in the all time German list for most international appearances behind Lothar Matthaus, Miroslav Klose and Podolski. Age and injury have seen him had to be content with a bench role in recent times, with younger and more fitter players leapfrogging him in the national pecking order, and he also seems to have been frozen out by Jose Mourinho at Manchester United, although he’s insisted that the Red Devils will be his final European club. Schweini joined United last year after making 500 appearances across all competitions for Bayern. He was also German captain when they won the World Cup in 2014, annihilating Brazil 7-1 en route to the title.
Will Germany give Schweini a winning send off? They’re obvious favourites given the odds and Matchbook offer a welcome bonus for those wishing to stake a bit of money on Die Mannschaft. As mentioned earlier, Schweinsteiger’s debut against Hungary saw him end on the losing side. The inexperienced Hungarians ruined Rudi Voller’s 50th game in charge of the national side by beating them 2-0 thanks to goals from Sandor Torghelle. Will the Finns be able to emulate the Magyars in Monchengladbach?
Germany’s next fixture after the Finland friendly is a World Cup qualifier against Norway and coach Joachim Low is already building towards the future with one eye on the 2018 World Cup. He has called up the Olympic silver medal winning trio of Max Meyer, Julian Brandt and Nicklas Sule with a view to assessing them.
This is Germany’s first game since their Euro 2016 semifinal defeat against France. Finland didn’t compete in the Championships and you have to go back to September ’15 for their last international victory- against minnows Faroe Islands. They’ve also had problems in front of goal- netting only once in their last six international meetings.
Finland form- last five games
Finland 0-1 Iceland
Poland 5-0 Finland
Norway 2-0 Finland
Belgium 1-1 Finland
Italy 2-0 Finland
Interesting bit however- for all their poor form, Finland have drawn their last four games against Germany and their last defeat to Die Mannschaft came back in 1999.
Highlights from Finland’s last clash against Germany
Germany 1 (Podolski) Finland 1 (Johansson)
Germany v Finland
August 31, 2016- Stadion IM Borussia Park, Monchengladbach- 19.45 UK KO