Bayern Munich's Bastian Schweinsteiger says the Boys in Green must be respected ahead of Friday's World Cup qualifier.

The midfielder said that while Ireland do not have quality in depth, they have a good work etiquette.

Germany hammered Ireland 6 - 1 in Dublin last October, a game that Schweinsteiger started in.

"Ireland have their qualities, which must be respected," he said. "They have players who fight tirelessly for their country. Of course they are not as strong as Argentina and Spain, but their hearts are in the right place and they always give everything."

Schweinsteiger who is 29 is already on 98 caps and if he plays against both Ireland and Sweden in the upcoming qualifiers he will become only the ninth player in German history to reach a century of caps.

His current team-mates Lukas Podolski, Philippe Lahm and Miroslav Klose are among the players to have earned 100 caps.

But Klose and Podolski are among a clutch of Germany players who will miss the Ireland game through injury.

Ireland's Keith Fahey and Bastian Schweinsteiger of Germany ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne