BASEL (Switzerland) (AFP) - Two years after terrorising the Portuguese to claim third-place at the 2006 World Cup, Germany star Bastian Schweinsteiger shone again to send Portugal home from Euro 2008. Schweinsteiger tormented Portugal with two goals in Stuttgart two years ago and he struck the first goal in Basel on Thursday before supplying crosses for two more to kick-start Germany's Euro 2008 campaign with a superb 3-2 victory. "I am delighted with this victory," said Schweinsteiger. "We had in my eyes the best side. We put pressure on Portugal without letting up. We were playing for our coach Joachim Loew, who was having to sit in the stands because he wass suspended. "As for our future in the tournament well anything can happen." Helping Germany to a last four berth here was a fitting reward for the 23-year-old after enduring a frustrating season at Bayern Munich. He struggled for form after being moved across the German champions' midfield from his usual berth on the left to accommodate French star Franck Ribery. And having earned himself a red card in the dying stages of Germany's shock 2-1 defeat at the hands of Croatia, Schweinsteiger had sat on the bench for the final Group B win over Austria. After receiving his first start of the tournament, he wasted no time making his presence felt with a series of probing runs to test the Portuguese defence before bagging the opening goal. His Bayern team-mate Lukas Podolski floated in the cross, which Schweinsteiger smashed home on 22 minutes having slipped his marker Paulo Ferreira. And it was Schweini who launched in the cross which his Bayern colleague Klose nodded past Portuguese goalkeeper Ricardo to put Germany 2-0 up on 26 minutes. And although Portugal fought back with a goal from captain Nuno Gomes just before the break, "Schweini" was on hand to cap a man-of-the-match performance with a pin-point free-kick for captain Michael Ballack to score the third on 61 minutes. Portugal replacement Helder Postiga may have added his side's second with time running out, but there was no denying Schweinsteiger his moment of glory. Germany will be back in Basel for next Wednesday's semi-final where they will play the winner of the Turkey-Croatia quarter-final in Vienna on Friday night.