Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger was airlifted to hospital on Saturday, although there are no concerns about him not being fit to face Portugal on Monday.

The Bayern Munich midfielder was taken to hospital from Germany's World Cup base by helicopter to have a scan on the knee injury he picked up during a training camp in South Tyrol last month.

However, there is no risk of him not being fit for Germany's first match in the World Cup - the hospital visit was just an obligatory check-up for insurance purposes.

All players appearing in the World Cup who had reported an injury before arrival in Brazil were obliged to undergo further tests before their first World Cup match.

Schweinsteiger's team-mates at Bayern, Manuel Neuer and Philipp Lahm, had also required a FIFA check-up but they had already completed the formalities in Munich before flying out to Brazil. Schweinsteiger had not.

Following the scan, the 29-year-old travelled to Salvador with the rest of the Germany squad in preparation for Monday night's clash with Portugal.

His place in Joachim Low's team is still not guaranteed, however, with the Germany coach confirming that Lahm would be one of his central midfielders, while Sami Khedira is widely expected to be the other.

Online Editors