Euro 2012: Bastian Schweinsteiger set for ‘classic’ against Dutch

Expect studs to fly high and shoulders to clash. It is what often happens when Germany and the Netherlands play at the highest level. And it rarely gets better than tonight’s match in Group B with Euro 2012 elimination staring the Dutch in the face and a quarter-final beckoning for Germany.

With so much at stake, Bastian Schweinsteiger said: “It will be a very hard game. There will be a lot of one-on-ones.” German coach Joachim Loew has a fully-fit squad. “We players are really looking forward to a classic like this,” added midfielder Schweinsteiger.

After beating Portugal 1-0 in their opener, Germany are joint-top of Group B with Denmark, who stunned the Dutch by the same score. Loew can largely stick to his tactics tonight, though he is known to spring surprises. He has two world-class strikers at his disposal in Mario Gomez and Miroslav Klose.

In the opener against Portugal, Loew picked Gomez over Klose and was rewarded with the Bayern Munich striker scoring the winner. Klose has been Loew’s preferred striker over recent years and Loew added: “There are different situations you have to look at and things that could change.”

The Dutch could take heart from the fact that Germany have lost the second match in their group at the past two major tournaments, against Croatia at Euro 2008 and against Serbia at the 2010 World Cup.

The last time the two sides met, in November, Germany outclassed the Dutch 3-0 in a friendly when both sides were missing several players.