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Schweinsteiger thrilled to make amends in Germany win

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-06-20 09:26

BASEL - Bastian Schweinsteiger said he was pleased to make up for his group stage sending off by inspiring Germany to a 3-2 win over Portugal in their Euro 2008 quarter-final on Thursday.

Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger celebrates his goal during their Euro 2008 quarter-final soccer match against Portugal at St Jakob Park stadium in Basel, June 19, 2008. [Agencies]

The midfielder scored the first goal and set up two more on his return to the team having been dismissed for violent conduct in the 2-1 defeat by Croatia in Germany's second group game.

"I made a mistake, I knew it. I set out to help the team today as much as possible and it worked," he told reporters.

"We still have something left. We must do it again in the next match. I'm very happy to have won the game. We eliminated the best team of the tournament in my eyes."

In the semi-final in Basel on Wednesday, Germany will meet the winners of Friday's match between Croatia and Turkey.

German coach Joachim Loew, not allowed on the touchline after being sent to the stands in Monday's 1-0 win over Austria in their fianl group game, watched from a box in the stadium.

NERVE-WRACKING

"It's a lot more nerve-wracking, you're so far from the pitch. You see some things a bit better but the distance from the pitch gets on your nerves," he said.

"After the Austria match we saw we had to make some changes. We wanted to close down the space in Portugal's midfield. We succeeded in doing that."

Assistant coach Hansi Flick took charge on the touchline and Loew was impressed.

"He did a great job. There were some things during the match he did absolutely right, like putting Michael Ballack a bit further back when there was a phase where they put us under some pressure," he added.

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who now leaves to take over Chelsea, lamented his side's defending.

"We made mistakes for the goals, though I can argue that on the third goal there was a foul. But that was a mistake, because we can't wait for the referee to signal a foul," he said.

"We lost but we played the match in a way that pleased us. I leave with a clear conscience, I always did my best and today was no exception. I did the best I could, hoping the players would do the same. And they did."