BERLIN - Injury-prone Ilkay Gundogan says he is ready to fill Bastian Schweinsteiger's midfield role in world champion Germany's upcoming 2018 World Cup qualifiers. Schweinsteiger made his 121st and final appearance for Germany in August before retiring and Gundogan is a candidate to slot into his vacated number six role. "I would have backed myself to take over the role sooner," Gundogan told magazine Sport Bild. Gundogan last played for Germany in November 2015, in the 2-0 defeat to France in Paris during the night of the November 13 terror attacks. "I had already missed the 2014 World Cup and was perhaps too pre-occupied with the European championships.

Source: Bangkok Post October 05, 2016 10:52 UTC