It was announced today that Bastian Schweinsteiger will be Germany's new captain. Thomas Schneider will also take up the role of Joachim Löw's assistant.
“Bastian Schweinsteiger has always taken on great responsibility,” Löw said. “I knew that I could always rely on him." The Bayern man was one of the favourites to take over the captaincy, after Philipp Lahm called it quits on his international career.
“Think back to the World Cup final and what he achieved for the team there and also in the games before it.
“At the moment Bastian is injured but of course I’ve talked to him in the past few weeks. I was in Munich and his injury is not one that is going to keep him out for months.
“His big goal is Euro 2016. I could sense that he’s still bursting with ambition.”
Despite a recent run of injuries for the talismanic midfielder, Löw wasn't worried about Schweinsteiger not being on the pitch:
"If he isn't there in a game then we have strong personalities who can take over," he said. "People like Manuel Neuer, Sami Khedira or Thomas Müller."
Schweinsteiger will miss the game with Argentina, a re-run of the World Cup Final, on Wednesday. Löw announced that Manuel Neuer would lead the side on Wednesday, with a qualifier against Scotland coming-up on Sunday. In the press conference, it was announced that Thomas Schneider would become assistant manager in October.
Schneider, who was sacked at Stuttgart coach last year, will take over from Hansi Flick. The former-Bayern man has been in the role since 2006 and has overseen two third place finishes and a World Cup win, as well as the European Championship final defeat in 2008.
"He brings in interesting ideas, and I like his style of football," Löw commented. "I also think he will fit in with us well as a person. He speaks his mind, and he has a strong personality."
Quotes via Deutsche Welle.