Eight months after succeeding Steve McLaren as England manager, Fabio Capello has announced that Chelsea defender John Terry will retain the captain’s armband. Capello took his time to make the decision, having given Steven Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand, Terry, David Beckham and Gareth Barry the chance to impress him in previous international friendlies. Manchester United’s Ferdinand, Terry’s partner in central defence, has been named vice captain of the squad. England take on the Czech Republic tonight at Wembley.
Gerrard led England in Capello’s first game in charge of the national side against Switzerland. The armband was handed to Ferdinand against France, after which Terry wore it at Wembley against the United States. Beckham and Barry captained the side for one half each in the 3-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago.
The Czech Republic today will be without Tomas Rosicky and long time coach Karel Bruckner, who stepped down after Euro 2008.