EVIAN-LES-BAINS: Germany is hoping captain Bastian Schweinsteiger can recover to play the European Championship semifinal against France in Marseille on Thursday.

Schweinsteiger, who took a knock to his injury-prone right knee in Saturday's quarterfinal win over Italy, started the team's last training session at its tournament base on Wednesday but his participation remains in question.

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Borussia Dortmund's Julian Weigl or Liverpool's Emre Can could step in for their tournament debuts if the 31-year-old Schweinsteiger doesn't make it.

"France are under a bit of pressure because they're hosts.

They know they're playing against an excellent Germany team. France-Germany, they were two of the favorites already beforehand. And now they meet in the semifinal. You don't have many better football games."