When Michael Ballack limped off the Wembley turf, kicked out of the FA Cup Final and World Cup by Portsmouths Kevin-Prince Boateng, thousands of Germans groaned Curt Schilling Jersey in horror. The leader, midfield general and guiding force of a talented but inexperienced side was out and it appeared a mortal blow to the teams chances in South Africa.The suggestion that Bastian Schweinsteiger was the heir apparent to Ballack would have provoked laughter and incredulity from many Germans. The Bayern Munich player had been seen to be talented but temperamental and had a habit of disappearing in big games. He was often seduced by temptation off the field and could regularly be seen in clothing even the German public found bizarre. Schweini as he was unkindly known was good but unreliable.At this World Cup however, in a new, deeper position Schweinsteiger has come into his own. Mesut zil may be dominating the headlines due to his eye-catching displays in behind the German front three but Schweinsteiger is the teams heartbeat.With almost 80 caps to his name, few realise that Schweinsteiger is still only 25. He made his international debut in 2004 and performed superbly at that years European Championship in Portugal. From then on he has been an international regular, never lacking in confidence but sometimes struggling to add substance to show as an advanced playmaker.It was Louis van Gaal, his Jake Lamb Jersey coach at Bayern who decided to deploy Schweinsteiger in a deeper role. The player is well built, athletic and rarely shirks a physical challenge and soon became the fulcrum of the side that reached the Champions League Final in May. Van Gaal also altered Schweinsteigers off the field persona, instilling a discipline and focus in his new protg that had previously been lacking.For Germany the players influence has been similar if not more far reaching. In the 4-2-3-1 formation used by Joachim Lw he is pivotal to the balance of the side. Schweinsteiger does the defensive side of the game well enough, sweeping up in front of Arne Friedrich and Per Mertesacker. His anticipation and work rate has impre sed many but he really comes into his own when the Germans take po se sion.Every attacking move now seems flow through him. Schweinsteigers deeper starting position often means that when he takes po se sion there is space in front of him. Bryce Jarvis Jersey The extra time this provides, combined with the excellent view of proceedings panning out in the final third allow him to showcase his full pa sing range and excellent vision.The formation depends on movement. Miroslav Klose, the central striker looks to hold the ball up, bring others into play and lurk in and around the box looking to poach goals. Lukas Podolski on the left, zil and Thomas Mller on the right buzz around him, interchanging and playing between the lines in search of space and goalscoring chances. Schweinsteiger sees this developing in front of him and throughout this tournament has invariably picked the right pa s. He keeps the ball moving and rarely looks to force the killer ball, operating like a metronome at the centre of proceedings.Schweinsteiger remains a goal threat too. He makes intelligent runs and offers a threat exacerbated by the fact that runs from deep are harder to track. His 21 international goals are a testament to the fact that he is an excellent finisher.In the second round match with England, much was made of Gareth Barrys inability to shackle zil. As important was Abraham Almonte Jersey the freedom given to Schweinsteiger to launch counter attacks. His sumptuous lofted through ball put zil in on goal early in the game only for the young playmaker to be denied by the legs of David James. His driving run Patrick Corbin Jersey and well timed pa s then set up Mller for the crucial third goal. The move began with an England free kick deep in the German half.Against Ghana he was tirele s; working throughout to maintain po se sion and launch attacks in what was a far closer game. Similarly against Australia his control and reliability was such as to provoke a foul from Tim Cahill that earned the Everton midfield player a red card.The change in Schweinsteiger has been truly remarkable. The bleach blonde hair and painted nails are gone in favour of a sleeker, more mature look. German newspaper Bild has since referred to him as the bo s. Schweinsteiger once famously featured in an advert for a dairy firm in which he impersonated a chicken. At this World Cup he has finally become the fox. He has been the outstanding deep lying midfield player in this tournament.