Schweinsteiger: Spain the team to beat

Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger believes that European Championship and World Cup holders Spain are the best team at Euro 2012.

The 27-year-old is an integral part of Joachim Loew’s German squad, who are also hotly tipped to challenge for top honours in Poland and Ukraine.

Yet the Bayern Munich man insists that Spain will be the team to beat.

“For me Spain are the best team. Spain give fans and the rival team the permanent sensation of having an extra man on the pitchm,” Schweinsteiger said.

However, he was also quick to reiterate that Vicente Del Bosque’s men are not impossible to defeat and played up his own country’s chances.

“However, those kind of teams aren’t invincible,” he said.

“The young players have given a special self-confidence to the team [the German squad], while the fighting spirit and the will remains intact. We also have more quality now.

“Now we are more flexible and we are faster.”