Bastian Schweinsteiger to miss Euro 2012 qualifiers against Turkey and Kazakhstan
Euro 2012 Group A leaders Germany will be facing their toughest test to date in their qualifying campaign when they will take on Turkey on 8 October, and they will have to do it without one of their best
players – Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger.
According to a statement on the German FA's website, a foot injury is to blame.
"The 83-times capped international suffered a capsular ligament tear to the tarsus region. Schweinsteiger was bent over during the game, then complained of severe discomfort in his right foot and underwent
magnetic resonance imaging on Monday morning at Bayern, with national team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt. After the diagnosis, Schweinsteiger informed Germany coach Joachim Low by telephone that he is not available for the two European Championship
qualifying matches."
Even though he played all 90 minutes, it is believed that Schweinsteiger sustained the injury in Munich's 2-0 loss to Borussia Dortmund over the weekend.
Germany head coach Joachim Low blames this summer's World Cup, and Schweinsteiger's packed playing schedule, as being a major factor in causing the 26-year-old's current injury.
"It looks like he will be missing for both games," Low said. "This kind of thing happens after a World Cup. The players only had a short break, a short pre-season, which increases the danger of picking
up injuries."
Germany have won two of their first two matches beating Belgium and Azerbaijan. Turkey also have two wins from two matches and look set to challenge Germany for top spot in the group. Turkey will also
be hungry for a victory as they will not have forgotten the 3-2 defeat they suffered at the hands of Germany just over two years ago in the semi-final of Euro 2008, which was held in Austria and Switzerland, and in which Schweinsteiger was a major factor scoring
the first of Germany's three goals.
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