JOHN Terry has admitted his bravery in the face of adversity as he faced the United States last May was probably a major factor in keeping the England captaincy.
Coach Fabio Capello sprung a surprise yesterday by choosing Terry as his permanent skipper ahead of Rio Ferdinand. Most pundits – and the bookmakers – expected Ferdinand to get the job ahead of tonight's Wembley friendly with the Czech Republic.
Instead, Terry will keep the armband he cherishes so much, having originally been appointed by Steve McClaren. And there is little doubt his whole-hearted, goal-scoring captain's performance against the USA, just seven days after suffering the abject misery of missing what would have been a winning penalty in the Champions League final, had a major influence on Capello.
"It showed my character to the manager," said Terry. "To bounce back the way I did after that huge disappointment showed what kind of person I am. Maybe that persuaded him.
"I don't know if it did but it was a big boost to get the captain's armband against the United States. I went on the pitch, played well and scored the goal. It helped to relieve the pressure a small amount for me and now I just want to get on with the job."
In keeping with his secretive methods, Capello kept his counsel until after training ahead of the friendly, before pulling his squad to one side as a group and informing them of his choice. Ferdinand has been awarded the vice-captaincy, with Terry confirming the pride he feels at keeping the job.
"Everybody realises the armband means the world to me," he said. "For me to get it above the likes of him (Ferdinand] and the other players in the squad is a great honour and a fabulous achievement."
Such had been the certainty that Ferdinand would be named skipper, even Terry expected to miss out. In fact, the defender was probably more shocked than any of his team-mates when Capello, who had not even told his coaching team, revealed his choice. "I'd never given up on the armband and never will do," he said. "I had heard whispers that Rio had got it so I was a little bit shocked but I've got to make the most of it."
Capello gave both Ferdinand and Terry a game as skipper, with Steven Gerrard, David Beckham and Gareth Barry also being handed the job on a one-off basis as the Italian made up his mind.
"It was not easy for me to choose because they are very good players," said Capello. "But the captain is very important because he is the driver of the team. Rio is very important but I chose John because of his big personality."
Terry made his England debut as a substitute in a friendly against Serbia & Montenegro in June 2003, establishing himself in the side the following season. He has scored four goals for England, including the first at the rebuilt Wembley Stadium against Brazil in June last year.
Looking to the match with the Czechs, Capello added: "I want to see England playing with spirit and without fear and with a big personality as a team. It is a very important match for us, the last before the qualifiers start and I want us to take another step forward."
England start their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign with two away matches against Andorra and Croatia next month.
Meanwhile, new Czech Republic manager Petr Rada has backed Petr Cech to bounce back from his Euro 2008 disappointment and prove against England he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Cech's blunder in Geneva two months ago gifted an equaliser to Turkey's Nihat Kahveci, who also grabbed a winner to deny the Czechs a place in the knockout stages. Tonight's game will be Cech's first for his country since that night.
"He is the goalkeeper at Chelsea, one of the best teams in the world," Rada said. "I think he has the ability to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Everyone has made mistakes, it has left him now and I think he is still the best."
The Czechs are rebuilding and the friendly against England is the first match since Rada replaced Karel Bruckner. They are without Jan Koller, who plays for Krylia Sovetov Samara in Russia which is too far for him to travel.
England's top captainsBOBBY MOORE
Few would dispute the late defender's standing as the greatest England captain of all time. He led his country to World Cup glory in 1966, and wore the armband a record 90 times in 108 caps.
BILLY WRIGHT
The Wolves defender shares Moore's record of having captained England 90 times. Led England in their first three World Cups in 1950, 1954 and 1958.
BRYAN ROBSON
Injury problems prevented Robson from becoming his country's most capped player, but he still played 90 times and captained England on 65 occasions.
DAVID BECKHAM
Led England 59 times under three different managers.
The full article contains 849 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
