Schweinsteiger, who announced his global retirement last month, made his national team debut in 2004 friendly against Hungary as a 19-year-old.
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Bastian Schweinsteiger of Germany is thrown in to the air by team mates after his last global match during the worldwide Friendly match between Germany and Finland at Borussia-Park on August 31, 2016 in Moenchengladbach, Germany.
“I think you all saw how it effected me. I had just wanted to enjoy every moment, but I hadn’t expected it to be so lovely”, admitted Schweinsteiger who was carried off after the final whistle by his team mates.
After the ceremony, Germany took the reins from the kick-off as Finland defended deep in their territory. “I will travel a lot after my career”.
After announcing his retirement from global football following Germany’s semifinal exit from Euro 2016, Schweinsteiger was given this worldwide friendly to say his goodbyes, and it proved to be a night to remember.
United Manager Jose Mourinho has no designs on making midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger and defender Marcos Rojo part of his plans moving forward.
The 32-year-old took over the captaincy when Philipp Lahm retired following the 2014 World Cup, but he announced his intention to step away from the worldwide game after Germany were eliminated from Euro 2016.
After the half time, Germany continued to press whereas Finland showed no interest to threat the hosts’ defence. Kevin Volland let the ball through and Meyer connected with a low shot.
“He has the personality, the demeanour and the reputation, within the team, to make a really good captain”, said the 55-year-old Matthaeus, Germany’s most capped player.
Schweinsteiger didn’t want to give up the captain’s armband and Germany was without a captain for a few minutes, until Thomas Mueller came off the bench with a spare one.
Although head coach Joachim Loew has named Neuer as Schweinsteiger’s permanent replacement, it will not be the first time Germany’s world-class goalkeeper will captain his country.
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An emotional Schweinsteiger played 68 minutes in his farewell and posed for a selfie with a pitch invader wearing a “Schweinsteiger 7” shirt, before leaving the field to a standing ovation.
