Bastian Schweinsteiger

Future German captain

Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger (L) vies for the ball against South Africa's Ricardo Katza during their friendly football match on 07 September 2005 at the Weser stadium in Bremen, northern Germany. AFP PHOTO DDP/DAVID HECKER GERMANY OUT

He may still suffer from youthful spots and sport a sub-Beckham haircut but Bastian Schweinsteiger is the face of the future for German soccer and the marauding midfielder should be central to their 2006 World Cup campaign.

Born in Bavaria in August 1984 he has enjoyed a meteoric rise to the top after joining Bayern Munich as a junior in 1998, where Ottmar Hitzfeld first gave him a senior run out back as early as 2002.

Germany's Sebastian Schweinsteiger celebrates after scoring against Russia during their friendly football match in Moenchengladbach 08 June 2005, ahead of the Confederation Cup in Germany. AFP PHOTO DDP/PATRIK STOLLARZ GERMANY OUT

In his first pro-season 2003-04 he turned out 26 times for Bayern in the Bundesliga before starring in Germany's under-21 side for the European championships.

There he and another German protege Lukas Podolski sparkled enough to catch the eye of then coach Rudi Voller, and he took both of them to Euro 2004 with the senior squad.

At just 20-years-old Schweinsteiger was handed the number 7 shirt out in Portugal where he started once, came on twice as a substitute and was a stand-out performer despite Germany crashing out after a defeat to the Czech Republic and draws with the Netherlands and Latvia.

Equally at ease in the centre and right as well as his natural left of midfield he makes powerful runs, deft passes and is generally tireless, combative and commanding, suggesting he may one day captain the national side.

Midfield general

Argentine midfielder Lucas Bernardi (L) vies with German forward Bastian Schweinsteiger during the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup football match Argentina vs Germany at Frankenstadion in Nuremberg, 21June 2005. AFP PHOTO MARCUS BRANDT

When Germany warmed up for the 2006 World Cup by staging the Confederations Cup in 2005 Schweinsteiger again shone in new national coach Jurgen Klinsmann's all attacking system.

He did however spark angry reactions from Australia who claimed he had made a disgraceful foul after he trod on the ankle of Tony Popovic in a 4-3 win.

Bayern Munich's Bastian Schweinsteiger (L) competes for the ball against Chelsea's Joe Cole during the second leg Champion's League quarter-final football match at The Olympic Stadium in Munich, 12 April, 2005. Bayern Munich won the game 3-2, but goes out of the competition losing 6-5 on aggregate. AFP PHOTO/ADRIAN DENNIS

In March 2006 he was falsely alleged to have been questioned by police in a betting and match fixing scandal, leading to the exit of the editor in chief and sports editor of Munich's TZ daily newspaper and a front page apology.

At club level he has both shone on the champions league stage and also been excluded from Felix Magath's squad, which boasts nine classy midfielders.

Klinsmann's faith is unwavering and he continues to select the burly blond for the national side where Schweinsteiger says the team spirit is in tip top shape as the finals hove into view.