Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger insists he wants to taste more success with Germany at Euro 2008 next summer after he helped the Germans finish third at last year's World Cup.
Schweinsteiger, 23, scored twice in his side's 3-1 third-place play-off win over Portugal at last year's World Cup and the Bayern Munich midfielder wants to taste more success at the European Championships.
Germany are in pole position to qualify for Euro 2008 and lead their group by five points, but Schweinsteiger says Germany are set to peak at the event in Austria and Switzerland.
"Euro 2008 is hugely important for me," he told German tabloid Bild.
"I want to play a central role there and for my own development, the European Championships come along at just the right time.
"At the World Cup, I learned so much from the experience and it really fired up a hunger in all the young players in the squad, we are all focused on it."
Schweinsteiger was sporting black nail polish during Saturday's Bundesliga clash against Hanover after losing a bet with his girlfriend he would score a goal in the first two games.
But after Bayern splashed out 69 million euros on a summer spending spree, Schweinsteiger is far from dark to be playing with World Cup stars Franck Ribery and Luca Toni at Bayern.
{{/usCountry}}But after Bayern splashed out 69 million euros on a summer spending spree, Schweinsteiger is far from dark to be playing with World Cup stars Franck Ribery and Luca Toni at Bayern.
{{/usCountry}}He said: "I never thought 'Oh God, with so many players arriving, I will be on the bench'.
"In fact it was the opposite, I am an optimist. I know, what I can do. In addition, I felt I had something to prove and it inspired me.
"This is a fun team to play in and winning the Bundesliga title is a realistic expectation."