Schweinsteiger Seeks First International Title

[Folami David]

Bastian Schweinsteiger has shaken off last year's trauma and will step up to take a penalty again if needed when Bayern Munich meet Borussia Dortmund in Saturday's all-German Champions League final.
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The 28-year-old has been hailed by coach Jupp Heynckes as "the best midfielder in the world" but a big international title is still missing to be among the real greats.
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Schweinsteiger has won six Bundesliga titles and five German cups with Munich since his debut there in late 2002 at age 18.
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But on the international stage there are near misses for Germany - second at Euro 2008, third at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups and semifinals at Euro 2012 - as part of his 98 caps, and two lost Champions League finals with Munich in 2010 and 2012.
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Schweinsteiger's penalty against the right post in last year's shoot-out against Chelsea in Bayern's home stadium was the symbol of the latest failure, but he and his teammates are determined to rebound at Wembley.
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"The defeat against Chelsea motivated me even more this season," Schweinsteiger said last week.
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Schweinsteiger and new signing Javier Martinez form a formidable defensive midfield duo which has had a large share in Munich's record-breaking run to the Bundesliga title, a place in the German cup final in that of the Champions League final, achieved with an emphatic 7-0 aggregate demolition of Barcelona in the Champions League semifinal.
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And it was only fitting that Schweinsteiger himself clinched Munich's league title with six games to spare in April with the 1-0 winner at Eintracht Frankfurt from a neat back-heeler.
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The modest midfielder also attributes a more or less injury-free season to taking his game to a higher level again, and the outgoing coach Heynckes has nothing but praise for his team boss.
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"He is our strategist, the brain of the team, he dictates the rhythm," Heynckes said.
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"Of course he was disappointed (2012), but a footballer has to live with these things. He has worked himself out of the low again. For me Bastian is the best midfielder in the world."
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Schweinsteiger showed his unwavering confidence this season by saying that "If the coach wants me to do so I would step up for a penalty again" against Dortmund.

[Shola Sholaz]

Too bad for Bayern Munich and Schweinsteiger because I do not think they would win this time again. The trophy is for Dortmund.