Schweinsteiger named Germany captain

Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger was on Tuesday named the new captain of Germany by manager Joachim Loew.

Loew appointed the 30-year old to succeed Philipp Lahm, who stepped down from international duty after skippering Germany to the World Cup title in July.

Schweinsteiger will lead Germany out on Wednesday in an international friendly in Dusseldorf against Argentina in a rematch 50 days after the Maracana showdown in Rio de Janeiro.

Schweinsteiger became a symbol of Germany’s charge to a fourth world trophy, battling on through the final victory over Argentina despite taking an elbow in the face that left blood pouring from a cut.