Paris, November 18:

England’s visit to Germany on Wednesday for an end-of-year friendly international sees Fabio Capello’s men hampered by a sizeable injury list, while Diego Maradona will make his coaching bow with Argentina.

But while Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard will both be missing and there will be no 108th cap at least on this occasion for David Beckham, who must wait to draw level with the late Bobby Moore, the match is an opportunity for second-string England players to press their claims.

While the former world champions, who have four months to prepare for their next World Cup qualifiers, do battle at the Berlin Olympic Stadium another former World Cup winner, Maradona, will be taking to the dugout at Hampden Park for his first match in charge of Argentina against Scotland.

It was against the Scots that Maradona netted his first international goal in a friendly win in 1979. Scotland assistant manager Terry Butcher might not remember that one -- but he said on Monday he won’t forgive Maradona for his “hand of God” goal against England in the World Cup quarter-final in 1986.

After insisting FA medical staff confirm Liverpool’s initial diagnosis on Gerrard’s groin problem Capello, further shorn of Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney, can now invite the likes of Fulham’s Jimmy Bullard and West Ham’s Scott Parker to shine against Germany.

Facing the three-time world champions on their own patch is all the motivation necessary for goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who rejoins the squad after Joe Hart injured an ankle in Manchester ity’s draw with Hull on Sunday. Poor form saw Blackburn’s Robinson lose his place with England and Tottenham and his last appearance for his country was the Euro 2008 qualifier defeat by Russia 13 months ago.

In attack, another recalled star, Darren Bent is managing to settle down into a rich vein of form at White Hart Lane. Spurs’ renaissance under Harry Redknapp has seen Bent earn a recall by notching seven league goals. In truth, Capello should welcome a chance to experiment following a perfect start to the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign with four wins in four games.

Germany coach Joachim Loew laid down the disciplinary credo on Monday to his stars following last month’s public spat with captain Michael Ballack. Ballack and fellow senior player Torsten Frings will miss the England friendly with Loew saying he wants to use the game to experiment with younger players such as Borussia Moenchengladbach teenager Marko Marin.

France, who take on Uruguay, are meanwhile set to welcome back veteran Patrick Vieira nine months after his last showing in a friendly loss in Spain. The Inter Milan star injured his calf in the warmup to France’s World Cup qualifying draw with Romania last month and hence then missed a friendly against Tunisia, having already spent Euro 2008 on the sidelines with a thigh strain.