Fabio Capello confirmed Rio Ferdinand will captain
England in their Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro on Tuesday
as striker Darren Bent was ruled out through injury.
After weeks of speculation over whether Ferdinand would regain
the armband from his deputy Steven Gerrard, Capello said Monday the
fit-again Manchester United defender would lead England at
Wembley.
Gerrard had made a strong case to be awarded the captaincy on a
permanent basis after leading England impressively in Ferdinand's
absence during the World Cup and victories over Bulgaria and
Switzerland last month.
However Capello said the Liverpool skipper accepted that the
captaincy would now revert to first-choice Ferdinand.
"I spoke with Steven yesterday evening and explained why Rio
will be captain against Montenegro. He understood everything - he
knows the rules. I have also told the players that Rio would be
captain," Capello told a press conference.
"I decided when I started as England manager who will be the
captain and the vice-captain. The players understand why Rio is the
captain, and after him Steve Gerrard, and after Gerrard another
one."
"When I spoke with Steven I told him, 'you were a fantastic
captain and you have to play like a captain tomorrow."'
supersport.com