Football: Podolski Captains Germany On Farewell Against England
Muhammad Rameez Published March 21, 2017 | 06:20 PM
DORTMUND, Germany, , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Mar, 2017 ) - Lukas Podolski will captain injury-hit Germany on his farewell international appearance in Wednesday's friendly against England, die Mannschaft's head coach Joachim Loew has confirmed.
Podolski, 31, will make his 130th 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," 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," added the Galatasaray striker, who made his international debut in 2004.
However, world champions Germany are missing a host of first choice players. "As well as our captain Manuel Neuer, Mario Gomez, Mesut Ozil and Julian Draxler are also injured," Loew told a press conference in Dortmund.
With both attacking midfielders Draxler of Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal's Ozil out, Real Madrid's Toni Kroos is most likely to fill the role. With Gomez, 31, missing, RB Leipzig's Timo Werner, 21, is set to make his debut having hit 14 goals in the Bundesliga so far this season.
In the absence of first-choice goalkeeper Neuer, who has a calf injury, Barcelona's Marc-Andre ter Stegen, PSG's Kevin Trapp and Bayer Leverkusen's Bernd Leno will be vying to start 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 2018 World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan in Baku with his side five points clear in their group.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Rizwan’s batting order may be changed: Sources
Nawaz Sharif to visit Guangzhou exhibition in China
FM Dar not traveling to China: Foreign Office
PM takes notice of deliberate delay in tax cases
Iranian President visits Allama Iqbal’s mausoleum
Iranian President arrives in Lahore today
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 23 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 23 April 2024
Islam enlightened world with its teachings about knowledge: Dr Jamileh
Record London close as oil prices drop on easing Middle East fears
TV tower in Kharkiv struck as Russia captured village
LCCI language courses from May 1
More Stories From World
-
In Brazil, hopes to use AI to save wildlife from roadkill fate
6 minutes ago -
Taiwan hit by dozens of strong aftershocks from deadly quake
16 minutes ago -
Ambassador Hashmi visits Linyi city in Shandong province
36 minutes ago -
Norway women bring seaweed to culinary heights in Europe
46 minutes ago -
Ukrainian agriculture minister suspected in corruption scandal
1 hour ago -
China issues highest-level rainstorm warning after deadly floods
1 hour ago
-
London stock market hits record high
1 hour ago -
Five migrants die attempting Channel crossing: French police source
2 hours ago -
Migrant detentions set to begin after parliament passes UK-Rwanda plan
2 hours ago -
China slams US claims it is fuelling Ukraine war
2 hours ago -
More than 50,000 displaced by clashes in northern Ethiopia: UN
2 hours ago -
N. Korea's Kim oversees 'nuclear counterattack' drill
2 hours ago