Bierhoff confident in squad strength

Euro 2008 qualifying: Steve Staunton probably still views his rival's options as enviable but Joachim Loew's problems continued to mount yesterday ahead of Saturday's Euro 2008 qualifier in Dublin with the German coach losing two right-side midfielders, Bernd Schneider and Roberto Hilbert, to injury.

Schneider, a prominent member of the side that finished third in last summer's World Cup finals, has been forced out of the squad with a knee problem while Roberto Hilbert, whose impressive form helped Stuttgart to the league title last season, has a foot injury. "Both are out," confirmed team manager Oliver Bierhoff in Berlin yesterday, "and Joachim Loew will consider his other options. The injuries are a disappointment but we are fortunate in having a strong squad."

That much is true but with Tim Borowski, Philipp Lahm, Michael Ballack and Miroslav Klose all ruled out too, the visitors will now be without around half of the their first-choice players for the game at Croke Park.

"The game in Dublin will be difficult but we already have the confidence in our position to say we will be at the European Championships next summer," said Bierhoff. "It was a major priority for us to start this campaign well and to qualify before our rivals because you can not prepare for these tournaments in just a few weeks. We are very happy with the progress that we have made."

In the absence of Ballack, his regular central midfield partner at international level Torsten Frings was confirmed yesterday as the German captain for Saturday's game. The 30-year-old has been outstanding for his country over the past few years and it has been suggested his understated performances at the heart of the German team are often what makes the Chelsea star look so good.

Frings, who said he is delighted to be captaining the team, was more cautious in his tone when discussing the team's immediate future despite the fact they are all but mathematically certain of a place at next summer's finals. Indeed a point this weekend would wrap qualification up.

"We will go over there (Dublin) to win," he said, "but it will be hard. We have the potential to be a great team, one that achieves a great deal together and we want to prove it but up until now, we know, we have achieved nothing."

The Germans have won seven and drawn one of their eight games so far. Their one slip-up came in Nicosia where the match finished 1-1 but they have already beaten all of the other teams in the group away from home. Their most important victory came in Prague against the Czechs winning 2-1 while, more memorably perhaps, they overran San Marino by 13 goals in Serraville.

After playing here they have home games against the Czechs, Cyprus and Wales.

Ballack, meanwhile, has insisted he wants to see out his contract at Chelsea. The 31-year-old midfielder has repeatedly been the subject of transfer speculation linking him with a move to Real Madrid.

"I feel very happy here and would like to end my career here," he told German television yesterday, "although, if I am still fit when my contract runs out (in 2010), why should I not play on for another two years?"

Didier Drogba, whose future at the club has been questioned since the departure of Jose Mourinho, also said yesterday that he has no intention of leaving.

"Chelsea is my destiny today," he said, when asked about rumours of a move to Milan. "I do not want the adventure to change. "Milan?" What a good club. But I have spoken to nobody."