Joachim Low to name new Germany captain after Bastian Schweinsteiger's final game

Germany manager Joachim Low says he will not reveal who will succeed Bastian Schweinsteiger as national team captain until after the Manchester United midfielder's final game on Wednesday (31 August) against Finland.

Schweinsteiger, 32, will retire from international football after playing 120 times for Germany, scoring 24 international goals during his 12-year career with the national team.

Bayern Munich duo Manuel Neuer and Jerome Boateng are considered the favourites to replace the United midfielder as Germany's new captain. But Low has decided to delay naming a new skipper until after Wednesday's match.

"On Wednesday Bastian will be the captain," Loew told reporters on Monday, Deutsche Welle report. "So on Wednesday it's not a topic."

Schweinsteiger won the World Cup with Germany in 2014 and replaced Philipp Lahm as captain following the retirement of his former Bayern Munich teammate.

His future at Old Trafford remains uncertain having reportedly been told by Jose Mourinho he is one of a clutch of players free to leave the club on loan permanently, according to The Times.

The midfielder only arrived at United from Bayern last summer, a move hailed by some as a masterstroke at the time. But the injury problems that have troubled Schweinsteiger in recent years followed him to Manchester, with Mourinho now struggling to find a spot for him in his squad.

Asked whether the Germany international can force his way back into contention, the United boss recently told reporters: "I think it's very difficult to happen. I'm not saying it's impossible. I'm saying it's very difficult.

"We have a decision completely made about (Paul) Pogba, (Ander) Herrera, (Morgan) Schneiderlin, (Marouane) Fellaini and Michael Carrick (Schweinsteiger's fellow central midfielders).

"We have five players for two positions. It's very difficult that an opportunity will arrive."