Football idol meets family of balcony plunge victim

Meyler, 26, is aware of the scale of the challenge he faces by coming up against Germany skipper and Manchester United star Schweinsteiger, but is optimistic about his own chances in that duel as well as his team’s possibilities for the two games.

The current Manchester United midfielder had previously met Schuster, a Bayern Munich fan, and posted his condolences after the Berkeley tragedy in June, which saw six Irish students lose their lives.

The “sports-mad” Dubliner was an avid fan of German footballer Bastian Schweinsteiger, so much so that his friends wore Bayern jerseys at his funeral in the Church of the Three Patrons in Rathgar.

The 26-year-old Hull midfielder, who played at right-back in the 1-1 draw with the Germans in Gelsenkirchen nearly a year ago, could get the nod in the middle of the park when the sides meet at the Aviva Stadium on Thursday evening with suspensions and injuries taking their toll on Martin O’Neill’s squad.

The World Cup victor sympathised with family and friends over their loss and gave them a signed jersey at the Aviva Stadium.

Schweinsteiger (centre) pictured with members of the Schuster family and close friend, from left, Peter Fitzpatrick, Alexei Schuster, John Schuster and Graziella Schuster.

Louis Van Gaal is already troubled with the number of injuries in his squad and will be concerned with Schweinsteiger’s injury now.

“The message is making me very sad. I also would like to send my deep-felt condolences to all other people who were affected by this tragedy”, Schweinsteiger wrote.