FIFA World Cup 2014 Player Profile: Bastian Schweinsteiger

Name: Bastian Schweinsteiger
Date of Birth: August 1, 1984
Position: Midfielder
Team: Germany
Appearances: 101
Goals: 23

Schweinsteiger, a regular feature for the German side since 2004, has had lacklusture form at the 2014 edition of the World Cup. He has scored zero goals for the team and will be looking to inspire his team tonight as they face hosts Brazil in today's semifinal match. His performance was a lull, as he failed to click in the group stages, as well as the knockout stages. Having moved into a central role, he has not looked back and Germany coach Joachim Loew has dubbed him "the brain" of the national team. Should he steer clear of injury, it seems likely that the midfiedler will break Lothar Matthäus's record of 150 appearances for the Die Mannschaft. He shot to prominence in the 2006 World Cup held on home soil but suffered heartbreak in the semifinals against Italy. In spite of doing well at the Euro in 2008 and 2012, and the 2010 World Cup, Bastian and his mates side have always come short. It's been 24 years since Germany last won the World Cup, but with experienced leaders such as Schweinsteiger, Philip Lahm and Miroslav Klose, there is a realistic chance that the barren run could soon come to an end.