Schweinsteiger: Germany deserve plaudits

Bastian Schweinsteiger wants more respect for his Germany team, following criticism of performances and lack of trophies.

The midfielder was speaking ahead of his side’s 2014 World Cup qualifier away to the Republic of Ireland on Friday, in which he will captain the side in the absence of the suspended Philipp Lahm.

Bayern Munich man Schweinsteiger believes Germany should be praised for their performances – despite not winning a competition since 1996 and losing out to Italy in the semi-finals of Euro 2012.

“(Semi-final finishes) should not be taken for granted. We did not drop a point in the qualifiers, we beat top-10 teams in our group and then lost just one game,” he said, referring to their European Championship campaign.

“I think it is a pity, it is not always fair but that is the way it is. There are other teams who have targets and it is not easy to keep winning.

“I don’t think everything is bad, not many teams can claim to have such a track record. I think the respect is missing a bit. It is not written down anywhere that we are going to win every game.”

Schweinsteiger missed his side’s first two qualifiers against Austria and the Faroe Islands and now is looking forward to representing his country in Dublin against Giovanni Trapattoni’s Ireland side.

“It is a special feeling playing there. The atmosphere is different, it has this special something,” he said.

“We had the joy of playing there five years ago and it is difficult to win there. It would be a huge advantage to get the three points but they are a tough team with a clever fox of a coach.”