Schweinsteiger, Podolski to play in final Germany friendly

BERLIN — Bastian Schweinsteiger will play one last game for Germany at the end of August, it was announced Tuesday, despite the exiled Manchester United midfielder confirming his international retirement. After 120 appearances and having won the 2014 World Cup title with die Mannschaft, the 32-year-old told head coach Joachim Loew at the start of August that he has retired from international football after 12 years in the famous white shirt. But Schweinsteiger will play one last game for Germany - on Aug. 31 in a friendly against Finland in Moenchengladbach - to allow fans to say goodbye under the slogan "Servus, Basti!" (Bye, Basti!). The friendly will come as a welcome distraction to Schweinsteiger, who has been banished to United's reserves by new coach Jose Mourinho and has an uncertain future at Old Trafford. Lukas Podolski, who announced his retirement Monday, will also be given a similar farewell, possibly in a Germany friendly away to Italy later in the year, after he has recovered from an ankle injury.