Although Bastian Schweinsteiger looks back on his previous encounter with the Portuguese national team in the third/fourth place play-off in the World Cup of 2006 fondly, he is well aware that Germany's quarter-final adversaries in the Euro 2008 tournament are a totally different kettle of fish this time round.

Germany won that World Cup game 3-1 with Schweinsteiger scoring two of the goals, but he acknowledges the fact that Portugal are a much stronger and more mature outfit this time round. He goes so far as saying that he thinks they are the strongest team in Euro 2008 and that they present the toughest challenge that Germany could have possibly faced.

Schweinsteiger himself though is no longer a guaranteed first choice selection in the team as he was in the last World Cup, and after his dismissal against Croatia, German coach Joachim Low has told him that he owes himself and the rest of the squad a "debt". This is something Schweinsteiger is well aware of and has promised to give his all to the team if selected.

With Germany not playing up to scratch in the games against Croatia and Austria, the Bayern Munich midfielder is under no illusions that the team must do better collectively if they want to progress to the semi-finals of the competition.

He recognises that he himself hasn’t exactly produced the best of form in these finals after making two appearances as a substitute and suffering the indignity of being red-carded in the second game against the Croats. While obviously being frustrated at the way the first two games have gone, he plans to turn that frustration into enthusiasm for the quarter-final and is really looking forward to the challenge.

Nevertheless, for all the anticipation surrounding the upcoming match, there is a deep-rooted respect in the squad for a Portuguese team that has its foundations built around Manchester United genius Cristiano Ronaldo. Schweinsteiger insists that Ronaldo is an amazing player, but Germany mustn’t forget that Portugal have a whole host of great players that are capable of turning a game, including the likes of Simão, Deco and João Moutinho.

But in conclusion he said that if Germany can produce the kind of form they know they are capable of then it is going to be one exciting contest.