Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger was on Tuesday named the new captain of world champions Germany by manager Joachim Loew. Loew turned to the 30-year-old to succeed Philipp Lahm, who stepped down from international duty after skippering Germany to the World Cup in July. "Bastian will be a great and dignified captain of our national team," Loew told a press conference in Duesseldorf.
Schweinsteiger is currently injured with a knee problem, leaving goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to lead Germany out on Wednesday in an international friendly in Duesseldorf against Argentina in a rematch 50 days after they met in the World Cup final at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro. Schweinsteiger became a symbol of Germany's charge to a fourth World Cup, battling on through the final victory over Argentina despite taking an elbow in the face that left blood pouring from a cut.