Schweinsteiger declares himself fit to face Italy

Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has declared himself fit and available for selection for Thursday`s Euro 2012 semi-final showdown with Italy.

The Bayern Munich man has been beset by injury problems this season and gave his country a scare by sitting out the warm-up clash with Israel because of a calf problem. Schweinsteiger has since featured in all four of Die Mannschaft`s tournament outings to date, but admitted over the weekend that he has been struggling with an ankle problem that very nearly forced him to withdraw from Friday`s quarter-final win over Greece. The 27-year-old insists, though, that he now feels 100 per cent fit for the first time in weeks and is itching to start against the Azzurri in Warsaw. "I`m very happy and I feel OK," Schweinsteiger said. "I know how to deal with the situation. I`m looking forward to the game, and trying my best to be ready. "I`m feeling better today [Monday]. I feel fit enough to start, and I`m really eager to do so. When I say that I feel good, I mean it." Germany`s last-four encounter with Cesare Prandelli`s men will get under way at 20:45CET. Goal.com