Dusseldorf, Germany: Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger was on Tuesday named the new captain of world champions Germany by manager Joachim Loew.

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

“Bastian will be a great and dignified captain of our national team,” Loew told a press conference in Dusseldorf.

Schweinsteiger is currently injured with a knee problem, leaving goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to 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.

Loew also announced that former VfB Stuttgart coach Thomas Schneider would become his new assistant manager in October.

Schneider replaces Hansi Flick, who has taken up a new role as sporting director of the German Football Association.

Schweinsteiger, who has 108 caps for Germany, is currently out of action because of a tendon problem in his knee.

But Loew said that he was confident that the Bayern star’s vast experience would help him to lead Germany to the 2016 European Championships in France.

“Bastian Schweinsteiger has always taken on great responsibility,” Loew said. “I knew that I could always rely on him.

“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.”

If Schweinsteiger does miss more time than expected, Loew said he is fortunate to have several other major personalities in his squad.

The 54-year-old suggested that the likes of Neuer, Sami Khedira, Thomas Mueller and Mats Hummels can step up in Schweinsteiger’s absence.

Hummels and fellow defender Jerome Boateng will sit out Wednesday’s friendly, although Loew hopes that they can both return to training before Germany’s first Euro 2016 qualifier against Scotland on Sunday.

Real Madrid midfielder Khedira is doubtful, with Hoffenheim’s Sebastian Rudy earning a late call up to the squad.

While Wednesday’s glamour friendly against Argentina will bring back fond memories of Germany’s triumph in Brazil, Loew has already set his sights on further success.

“The next big goal for us after the final in Rio clearly has to be the European Championship final in Paris,” Loew said.

“The journey already begins with the next game on Sunday against Scotland.”

Wednesday’s match was already set to be a glamour friendly but there is added hype in the wake of Mario Goetze’s extra time winner when the teams last met in Rio de Janeiro on July 13.

Around 45,000 people watched the World Cup-winners train on Monday and Wednesday’s game at the Espirit Arena will attract a sell-out crowd.

On Sunday, Joachim Loew’s side host Scotland in Dortmund in their first qualifier for Euro 2016. For a German team still taking in the World Cup triumph, the two games have come around quickly.

“I think it’s not easy for us — that’s clear,” Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said on Monday.

“For Scotland it’s the game of the year to start against us. We have to play well against Argentina with regard to the weekend and to be fully prepared for it.”

Germany will be without Philipp Lahm, Per Mertesacker and Miroslav Klose, all of whom retired from international football after this summer’s tournament.

Most countries would struggle to replace three players, who amassed 354 caps between them, but Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff is confident that the squad can move on.

“After every tournament, we’ve always managed to bring the team to another level and to develop them further,” Bierhoff said at a press conference on Monday.

The most pressing question is who will replace Lahm as captain. Neuer, midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger and defender Mats Hummels are all candidates.

“When the coach trusts me to do it, I’ll do it,” Neuer said. “But of course I have to talk to him first to find out what the situation is.”

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Marco Reus, who missed the World Cup through injury, is back in the squad along with Fiorentina striker Mario Gomez. Highly-rated VfB Stuttgart centre-back Antonio Ruediger is also included.

Mesut Ozil has an ankle injury but Bierhoff said he hoped the Arsenal midfielder would be fit for the Scotland game. Schweinsteiger, however, will miss both matches through injury.

Argentina changed manager after the World Cup, with former Barcelona boss Gerardo Martino taking over after Alejandro Sabella stepped down.

Martino must cope without captain Lionel Messi for his first match in charge. The Barcelona attacker played in a 1-0 win over Villarreal on Sunday but a groin injury has prevented the 27-year-old from travelling to Germany.

“The priority is not the result,” Martino said before leaving for Dusseldorf, taking with him the squad that got to the World Cup final, minus Messi.

“What’s important is that there’s a good atmosphere in the squad.”