Germany confident on Boateng's fitness for next Euro 2016 match

Lille (France) (AFP) – Jerome Boateng is set to take his place in the Germany starting line-up in Sunday’s Euro 2016 clash with Slovakia after coming through training on Saturday, coach Joachim Loew said. 

The Bayern Munich central defender came off after 76 minutes in Germany’s 1-0 win over Northern Ireland in Paris in their last group game with a calf knock.

However, he came through the final session at their base in Evian before they flew north to Lille for the last-16 tie. 

“He participated and there were no complaints after training. He will undergo treatment tonight (Saturday) but we don’t think there will be any problems,” Loew told a press conference at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. 

“It was good to bring him off early in the last game and he gave us the OK after training.” 

Loew also insisted that Bastian Schweinsteiger still has a key role to play for the world champions in France despite having only a bit-part role so far. 

Manchester United midfielder Schweinsteiger, 31, has spent much of 2016 on the sidelines with a knee ligament injury. He has only featured twice as a substitute so far at the finals — he came on and scored in the opening 2-0 win over Ukraine in Lille. 

Loew said: “He was injured for quite a long time — the last time he started a game was in January so that is why it was clear he wouldn’t be ready at the start of the competition, not for 90 minutes anyway. 

“He’s getting fitter and doing well in training and he will play a decisive role in this tournament.”

Germany are looking to avenge a 3-1 defeat to Slovakia when the sides met in a pre-tournament friendly in Augsburg at the end of May.

The winners of Sunday’s tie will face Italy or reigning champions Spain in the quarter-finals in Bordeaux next weekend.