Low prepared to manage Schweinsteiger’s workload at Euros

Germany boss Joachim Low says he will manage the workload of skipper Bastian Schweinsteiger during Euro 2016 to protect the greater good of his team.

Schweinsteiger, 31, made his return from injury as a second-half substitute in Germany’s 2-0 win over Hungary on Saturday.

The Manchester United midfielder said afterwards that he feels better than he did in the build-up to the successful 2014 World Cup campaign, when he had a knee injury during the tournament preparation.

Two years ago, Low successfully strategised Schweinsteiger’s game time in order that he was able to deliver a 120-minute performance as Germany defeated Argentina in the final in Rio de Janeiro.

Low says that would not have been possible had his skipper played right the way through the tournament and, for that reason, he is untroubled by Schweinsteiger’s assertion that he is unlikely to play 90 minutes against Ukraine in Germany’s Group C opener.

“It was also because of his outstanding hard-running and physical performance in the final that we won that title [in Brazil],” Low said. “He could not have that performance over 120 minutes if he had played all matches before that.”

Knee problems have restricted Schweinsteiger’s impact during his first season at Old Trafford but his national team boss has no problems with using him sparingly in France in a bid to have him ready should Germany reach the latter stages.

“I don’t want him to fall into a hole after three or four games, which would be very normal after such an injury,” Low added. Along with Ukraine on June 12, Germany will tackle Poland and Northern Ireland in their Group C campaign. The world champions are 5.00 to win Euro 2016.