Podolski captains Germany on farewell against England
Germany's midfielder Lukas Podolski laughs during a nt press conference with Germany's head coach achim Loew (unseen) in Dortmund, western rmany, on March 21, 2017. Photo: AFP
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 .
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 .
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