Leader of the pack

Schweinsteiger crosses, Löw shoots, goal! Wait, what was that? In fact that's how the Germans began their last World Cup practice session. After the FIFA press conference on Saturday, Bastian Schweinsteiger arrived at Vasco da Gama's stadium, where the team trained after heavy rainfall prevented them from practicing in the Maracana. So there they were: the coach and his key player practicing their teamwork, and it's strong both on and off the pitch.

At the start of the tournament they gave a different impression. Schweinsteiger's mood was clouded. In the first group match against Portugal he didn't start and wasn't substituted on.

Schweinsteiger had certainly hoped for more, despite his dip in form after a knee injury. He was seen trotting somewhat sullenly around the field the next day at the training camp in Santo Andre. In hindsight, Schweinsteiger says, "The coach made 100 percent the right choice. For me it was perfect, because I still needed time to prepare myself."

Number of injuries? Unknown

Schweinsteiger recognized that he wasn't fully ready to go at the start of the tournament. You could see that in the following matches. Against the USA he looked exhausted when he was substituted off after 76 minutes, against Algeria he had to leave the pitch after 109 minutes because of severe cramp. After two operations on his ankle and ongoing knee problems this season, his body wasn't yet there. That Schweinsteiger still thinks it's personally been going "really well" for him says a lot about his career.

It's been marked with great success at Bayern Munich, but also setbacks, injuries and comebacks. Almost no other national team player has had to fight his way back into the squad so often. He played his first match with Bayern's senior team at 18, at 19 he made his debut for Germany. Now, 107 caps later, Schweinsteiger is 29 and the toll on his body is visible. But his numerous injuries have not affected his morale: "If everything works like it should, I can still play another World Cup in four years," Schweinsteiger said in Brazil - and you can believe him.

'I always believed it'

Schweinsteiger has often been written off, but he's always returned to form. This World Cup has been no different. The preparation time he missed ahead of the tournament has, unfortunately, become the norm, but he worked hard on his form in Brazil and was fit for the decisive match - ahead of the quarterfinal against France, he told the press he was ready for 120 minutes, and he was as good as his word.

Schweinsteiger's fitness was better, and he seemed the leader of the pack on the pitch once again. Together with Sami Khedira, he ran the matches against France and Brazil, backed up their by good positional sense. Their strong performances have helped put Germany in the final.

"I always believed in it because I have seen what's possible with this team," said Schweinsteiger, who has matured into a star along with a generation of talent. Now at the zenith of his career, Schweinsteiger wants to finally win the title that has so often eluded Germany: World Cup 2006: third. European Championship 2008: finalists. World Cup 2010: third. European Championships 2012: semifinalists. And 2014? "We have already been in a lot of big matches and failed at the final hurdle," he says. "But now I see that the team has improved. I have a good feeling."

And he says Germany can back it up. The team has "gained experience" compared to the past, "upped the footballing ante" and also added some "German virtue." Listening to him, and watching him on the pitch, you recognize a player who believes in himself, who takes responsibility - but above all, a player who knows how to deal with setbacks. Maybe that's exactly the kind of authority the German team needs in the World Cup final.