Vermaelen gets Belgian skipper´s armband

Arsenal’s Belgium defender Thomas Vermaelen has been given the captain’s armband by new national coach Dick Advocaat, according to press reports here on Thursday.

He takes over from Timmy Simons who is no longer in the national side.

Vermaelen has 23 caps for Belgium and has made an excellent start to the season with new club Arsenal, who he joined from Ajax in the summer, lining up in 11 matches to date and scoring five goals.

Belgium have already been eliminated from the race for the 2010 World Cup, leading to the departure of coach Franky Vercauteren last month and his replacement by Advocaat.

Belgium host Turkey on Saturday before playing Estonia next Wednesday in the final round of World Cup qualifiers.