Schweinsteiger names the England player he wants in Germany’s World Cup squad
Bastian Schweinsteiger believes England now have something Germany lack — a midfielder capable of controlling games in all phases. When asked to name one England player he would bring into the Germany national team, his answer was immediate.
The former Bayern Munich and Manchester United midfielder, who won the World Cup with Germany in 2014, pointed to Declan Rice as the standout.
Speaking at a Heineken event in New York, Schweinsteiger told SPORTbible:
“Declan Rice, I would say Declan Rice. Yeah, [I’m a] big fan. He’s an all-rounder. I like what he does.”
Why Rice stands out
Schweinsteiger earned 121 caps for Germany between 2004 and 2016 and played alongside elite midfielders such as Toni Kroos and Michael Ballack during an era of sustained success. While he stressed that Germany still possess quality, he suggested England’s current squad feels more balanced and complete.
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Rice, now a central figure at Arsenal, offers a mix of physical presence, tactical discipline and leadership. Those qualities, Schweinsteiger implied, have been missing at times from Germany’s midfield in recent tournaments. Rice previously represented the Republic of Ireland before switching allegiance and has since become one of the first names on England’s team sheet.
England players who impressed him in the past
Schweinsteiger also reflected on England players from earlier generations who left a strong impression on him, particularly during his time in the Premier League.
According to SPORTbible, he said several former England internationals could have fitted comfortably into Germany sides of the past, naming Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand and Ashley Cole.
“So Wazza would be for sure the one,” Schweinsteiger said, referring to Rooney. He added that Cole’s quality at left-back could have been accommodated by moving Philipp Lahm to the opposite flank.
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World Cup outlook under Tuchel
Looking ahead to the World Cup in North America, Schweinsteiger believes England’s defensive improvement under head coach Thomas Tuchel has placed them firmly among the contenders. England progressed through qualification without conceding a goal, something Schweinsteiger views as essential at tournament level.
“I would say that France actually has the strongest team, and then Spain,” he said, before including England in that group. “If you are playing at the World Cup, you need to have that strength, otherwise you have no chance.”
Sources: SPORTbible
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