Schweinsteiger Will Feature Against France

Neuer has conceded only one goal in regulation time in five games – against Italy in the quarterfinals, a tie Germany eventually won on penalties.

“We need to score goals. This is a team that doesn’t concede a lot of goals,” said French coach Didier Deschamps.

“Everyone talks about their attack, but they know how to defend,” he added.

German coach Joachim Loew is aware of the threat.

“We are going to have to be compact and close down the space in defence,” he said.

“France are going to be the toughest opponents we have had in the tournament until now.”

Deschamps has no injury problems and welcomes back midfielder N’Golo Kante and defender Adil Rami to contend for places after both served suspensions against Iceland.

With many French fans looking back to the 1982 battle, Deschamps said: “We can’t change past history, but we’ve got our own page to write.”

German captain Bastian Schweinsteiger will start in Marseille after recovering from a knee ligament strain suffered against Italy.

“In a game like this, his experience is very valuable and, in any case, he will start,” Loew said on Wednesday, without giving any other team details. And the penalty shoot-out win left him with tough choices.

Centre-back Mats Hummels picked up a yellow card and is suspended against France. Striker Mario Gomez and midfielder Sami Khedira picked up injuries which have ruled them out.

Loew also has a problem with Bayern man Thomas Mueller, a regular source of goals who has yet to score at the tournament.

But Mueller says that reaching the final and having a chance to add the Euro trophy to the World Cup they currently hold is all that matters.

“Reaching that goal is what drives me on. I haven’t had that many chances here and the ones I have missed were by a matter of centimetres.

“I’m not driving myself crazy about it,” he said.