Podolski captains Germany on farewell against England

Podolski captains Germany on farewell against England

Germany’s Lukas Podolski (front) warms up during a training session of the German national soccer team in Kamen, Germany, on Tuesday. The German team prepares itself for a test match against England on Wednesday in Dortmund. — EPA/VNA Photo

DORTMUND, Germany — Lukas Podolski will captain injury-hit Germany on his farewell international appearance in Wednesday’s friendly against England, head coach Joachim Loew has confirmed.

Podolski,  三 一, will make his  一 三0th and final appearance by wearing the captain’s armband against Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions in Dortmund.

"It’s sensational, you can’t ask for more,公众said Podolski, who will join Japan’s Vissel Kobe next season, upon hearing he will captain his country on his farewell.

"My final appearance will be a lovely, but also a sad moment for me.

"I’m pleased I will get a chance to say goodbye to the fans,"大众added the Galatasaray striker, who made his international debut in  二00 四.

However, world champions Germany are missing a host of first-choice players against Gareth Southgate’s England.

"As well as our captain Manuel Neuer, Mario Gomez, Mesut Ozil and Julian Draxler are also injured,公众Loew told a press conference in Dortmund.

"Germany versus England is usually a classic, but this one is different as I am missing a lot of good players.

"I see this England team as one in transition. Their coach wants more modern football, more ball possession.

"I’ve watched their game (a  二- 二 draw last November) against Spain and they put in a very strong performance.

"They have a lot of very good, very quick players, who can counter attack very well. They are bold and take risks."

With both attacking midfielders Draxler of Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal’s Ozil out with thigh injuries, Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos is most likely to fill the role.

Gomez,  三 一, is missing with a groin strain, so RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner,  二 一, is set to make his debut having hit  一 四 goals in the Bundesliga so far this season.

In the absence of first-choice goalkeeper Neuer, who has a calf injury, PSG’s Kevin Trapp is tipped to make his Germany debut between the posts.

Loew is already without injured defender Jerome Boateng and winger Marco Reus while World Cup winner Mario Goetze is sidelined until next season with a metabolism disorder.

Germany’s head coach will be hoping to have some of his stars back for Sunday’s  二0 一 八 World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan in Baku with his side five points clear in their group. — AFP