Football
Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent 10y

Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger 'still needs time' to work on recovery

New Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger has told Die Welt his body needs more time to recover following a gruelling season.

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Schweinsteiger, 30, excelled in this summer's final against Argentina, battling through the most important match of his international career in Brazil to help Die Nationalmannschaft lift their fourth World Cup.

A scar on his face still reminds him of that match, and the demands of the tournament -- as well as the last Bundesliga season, which Bayern Munich won -- have taken their toll, admits the midfielder.

"The main thing is that we've won that trophy. For all I care there could have been even more wounds if needed for the win," he said.

"I had this ankle surgery in June 2013, which didn't go as planned, and needed another surgery in December. Following the second half of last season, and the World Cup my body needs a bit of time, but I am making progress."

Despite making an appearance in the match against the MLS-Allstars in Portland in early August, Schweinsteiger has been struggling with a knee injury that already ruled him out for a short stint earlier this year.

The 30-year-old currently trains individually in Bayern's performance centre, but is hopeful that things will soon change for the better.

"I am in the best footballing age, and I am looking ahead to the future," he said. "I think that I will fully return in the next few weeks, but for Bayern and Germany it makes sense to fully recover from the injury."

The Bayern midfielder was chosen by Joachim Low Germany's new captain last week following the international retirement of Philipp Lahm, and while Schweinsteiger is proud to lead his country -- with success at Euro 2016 already his target -- he is keeping his feet on the ground.

"In the end I am just a normal national team player, who now happens to wear the captain's armband," he added.

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