Lukas Podolski will receive an appropriate farewell when Germany meet England in their friendly on Wednesday, the winger having become one of the country’s greatest players, according to Joachim Löw.

The game in Dortmund is expected to provide a perfect stage for Podolski to earn his 130th and final cap and start as captain for the first time.

The world champions will be missing several players through injury with Löw looking towards Sunday’s World Cup qualifier in Azerbaijan with his side top after four straight wins.

The 31-year-old Podolski, who made his debut in 2004, is his country’s third most-capped player and is fourth in the scorers’ list with 48 goals. “He is a unique specimen, no one can really replace him,” Löw said. “For me it will be a beautiful moment but a sad one because he was one of the greatest players ever to come out of Germany.

“Lukas and myself have gone a long road together,” said Löw, who has coached Podolski for all of his 13 years with the national team as assistant coach and then manager since 2006.

“We have gone over many hurdles, many tournaments, disappointments but also the biggest joy as coach and player with the World Cup victory in 2014. So the stage tomorrow is appropriate. Germany against England is the right atmosphere.”

The winger, known as much for his powerful left foot as his jovial character, will continue in club football as he prepares to leave Galatasaray at the end of the season to join Japan’s Vissel Kobe in the J1 League.

“These 13 years were great and fun years and I am proud of them,” said Podolski, who was part of a talented generation of Germany players, including Bastian Schweinsteiger and Philipp Lahm, who emerged after 2004.

Asked by English reporters what made Germany so successful over the years, Podolski, who also played for Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Internazionale among others, said it may have been sticking with the same manager over a decade.

“Maybe the main reason is that we have had a good coach for more than 10 years and after 2004 we started a road which maybe other nations did not start,” he said. England have had six managers over the same period.

“What happens in England at youth level I don’t know. But the players are getting stronger … and if they do not face Germany in a tournament maybe they can progress,” he said with a laugh.

Germany will be without the injured midfielder Mesut Özil, the winger Julian Draxler and the attacking midfielder Mario Gómez when they host England.

Löw said the trio were nursing minor injuries and would need a few days to recover with the world champions taking on Azerbaijan in a World Cup qualifier in Baku on Sunday.

“Those who will not play tomorrow are Özil, who has some muscle problems. Julian Draxler has the same injury, an upper thigh muscle,” Löw said. “Mario Gómez has an adductor muscle injury and may need a few days.”

Gómez’s absence is especially disappointing with the midfielder having scored in his last three Bundesliga games forWolfsburg and appearing to have rediscovered his form.

Germany are already without the injured goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, with Löw having called up Kevin Trapp as a replacement.