West Ham United midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger will captain Germany in Wednesday night's international friendly away to Denmark.
The 28-year-old has been in fantastic form for the club this summer, having only missed out on the 2010 FIFA World Cup because of a lack of match action with his previous club S.S. Lazio. Hitzlsperger has 51 caps and six goals for his country, having played at the 2006 World Cup finals on home soil.
"Thomas is an experienced player, he has been around for a long time and has the leadership abilities," said Germany coach Joachim Low. Hitzlsperger's chance has also come about because Michael Ballack and Philipp Lahm, who had the armband during the summer in South Africa, are both absent.
Elsewhere, as well as Carlton Cole hoping to figure for England against Hungary at Wembley, Pablo Barrera will line up for Mexico in their glamour home friendly against world champions Spain in Mexico City. Herita Ilunga is in Cairo with DR Congo to face Egypt, Valon Behrami could line up for Switzerland across the border in Austria and Tal Ben Haim is with Israel for a three-day training camp.
* On Tuesday night, Jonathan Spector will hope to figure for the United States against the might of Brazil in New Jersey. Spector was an unused substitute in all four of his country's games at the World Cup.