Cap ke 100 buat Bastian Schweinsteiger,

Bastian Schweinsteiger, who earned his 100th senior international cap in the meeting with the Scandinavians and was presented with a bouquet, a medal and a ceremonial cap by DFB President Wolfgang Niersbach and General Secretary Helmut Sandrock prior to kick-off.

Bastian Schweinsteiger, telah mendapat Cap ke 100 bersama pasukan kebangsaan Jerman ketika menentang pasukan Sweden awal pagi waktu Malaysia. Beliau menerima kalungan bunga, medal dan majlis peringatan dari President Bola Sepak Jermen, Wolfgang Niersbach dan Setiausaha Agong, Helmut Sandrock sebelum sepak mula berlangsung.

Shaqiri injured for six to seven weeks

Bayern have lost Xherdan Shaqiri to injury for the next six to seven weeks. The club’s diminutive wide midfielder sustained a muscle group rupture to his right hamstring while on duty for Switzerland in the decisive 2014 World Cup qualifier away to Albania last Friday. The injury was diagnosed and the prognosis issued by FCB chief medical officer Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt following a medical on Tuesday. “I’m disappointed, but I’ll try and regain fitness as quickly as possible,” said Shaqiri, after his appointment with the doc.

Bastian Schweinsteiger set for 100th Cap

When he thought back to the youthful, carefree time of his Germany debut, a smile crossed Bastian Schweinsteiger's face. Back in the early summer of 2004, a blond 19-year-old kid took his place in the national team set-up, joining forces with Lukas Podolski to be hailed as the bright stars of a better future for German football. “Poldi and I were easily the youngest players. A great deal has changed, not only in terms of our football, but also the level of expectation,“ recalled Schweinsteiger as he reviewed nine years in a Germany shirt, a career which began unpromisingly in a 2-0 friendly defeat to Hungary on 6 June 2004.

On Tuesday evening, Schweinsteiger can become the 12th German player to join the elite ‘Centurions’ Club’ if he appears in the final 2014 World Cup qualifier away to Sweden. “A hundred caps is a number that fills me with pride. It’s very special because it can’t be taken for granted. And I hope I play lots more internationals after this,” said the 29-year-old. His yearning for a trophy success in national colours remains great: “It’s a motivating factor, not only to be one of the best players, but also to be part of the best team. It’s one of my big targets,” he declared.

The missing 37 caps

Schweinsteiger has won everything there is to win with Bayern, after many close shaves and disappointments, including the decisive missed penalty in the 2012 Champions League final. However, the midfielder rectified that with the elite European title last season, part of FCB’s historic treble. And then there was the crowning glory from a pro’s point of view, his victory in the vote for German Footballer of the Year. “I’m proud of the award, but I know it’s very closely linked with how things went at Bayern. So it’s also an award for the team,” insisted Schweinsteiger, typically placing collective effort ahead of individual achievement.

Both for his club and for his country, under Jürgen Klinsmann and then Joachim Löw, the Bavarian native grew from being cheeky young Schweini to become a leading figure in the dressing room hierarchy and vice-captain, playing an important role in all the major tournaments between 2006 and 2012. And if he had not missed fully 37 international fixtures over the years, due to injury, suspension or duties with Germany’s biggest club, he would have passed the 100-cap milestone a long time ago and be already closing in on Lothar Matthäus, Germany’s most-capped player with 150 appearances.

Shaqiri - Hamstring Injury

Switzerland will be without Xherdan Shaqiri when they complete their World Cup qualifying programme at home to Slovenia on Tuesday, the Swiss FA announced on Sunday. The 22-year-old Bayern starlet is carrying a hamstring injury and will sit out the tenth World Cup qualifier, which is a dead rubber in any case after the Swiss booked their ticket to next summer’s finals on Friday. Shaqiri left his national team’s training base in Feusisberg on Sunday morning and set off for Munich, where he will report to the Bayern medical unit for an examination and treatment. “In a situation like this, you have to be aware of your responsibilities to the player and his club,” commented Switzerland supremo Ottmar Hitzfeld, one of the most successful coaches in Bayern history.

Lahm and Co book ticket to Brazil

The German national team captained by Bayern’s Philipp Lahm banished any last lingering doubts on Friday and booked their place at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with a game to spare. Joachim Löw’s side, featuring six Bayern men in the starting line-up, defeated Ireland 3-0 in Cologne with goals from Sami Khedira (12), André Schürrle (58) and Mesut Özil (90+1), but although the result fairly reflected the balance of play, there were a couple of nervous moments for Manuel Neuer and Co against the determined visitors.

Coach Löw selected Neuer in goal, withLahm at right back and Jérôme Boateng at centre-half. Three FCB stars lined up in midfield, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Toni Kroos joining forces with Khedira of Real Madrid to add balance and bite to the central area. Thomas Müller took up station wide on the right, with the seventh Munich man, Mario Götze, coming on as a sub four minutes from time. Hamburg’s ex-FCB defender Marcell Jansen also started the match.

David Alaba's Freestyle Kick

This is a must-see: Alaba's Freestyle tricks. MiaSanMia

15 Bayern Stars on International Duty

On Monday, Germany coach Joachim Löw gathered his squad in Düsseldorf to begin preparations for the forthcoming final round of World Cup qualifiers. Seven FCB men were there, namely Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Manuel Neuer, Thomas Müller, Toni Kroos, Jérôme Boateng andMario Götze. A victory against Ireland in Cologne on Friday would see the three-time world champions safely through to next summer's finals in Brazil. Löw and his men complete their group stage schedule away to Sweden in Stockholm next Tuesday.

Eight of the club’s non-German players are also representing their countries this week. UEFA Best Player in Europe Franck Ribéryand France play a friendly against Australia on Friday evening, before the serious business of a qualifier at home to Finland on 15 October.

Arjen Robben and the Dutch, who have already booked their ticket to Brazil with 22 points from eight Group D matches. For Austria and David Alaba, it's make or break time on Friday in the match away to Sweden.

Xherdan Shaqiri and Switzerland are in a less precarious position, as the Swiss top Group E.

Croatia and top striker Mario Mandzukicwill probably have to settle for the play-off place, as the East Europeans are currently five points adrift of Belgium and Daniel van Buyten.

In South American qualifying, Claudio Pizarro and Peru are out of the race for berths in Brazil next summer and are playing only for pride in this round of matches. Pizza leads his men in the prestige clash away to Argentina on Friday, before a final fixture against Bolivia next Tuesday night.

Dante has again been called up by Brazil and will travel to Asia for a friendly against South Korea in Seoul on Saturday, and a meeting with Zambia in Beijing on Tuesday