Capello finally plumps for Terry

The England manager Fabio Capello chooses John Terry, not the press favourite Rio Ferdinand, as captain.

The England coach Fabio Capello (left) names Chelsea centre-back John Terry as the captain of England.

Fabio Capello was an avid student of English football during his successful career as a club manager but the experienced Italian admitted shortly after accepting the challenge of revitalising the England international team that he underestimated the importance of the captain's armband.

Four different captains in four friendly matches so far - five if you count Gareth Barry taking over from David Beckham in the last of those games in Trinidad and Tobago - was a strong declaration that Capello was not going to be rushed or bullied into naming his team's permanent leader. Yesterday was the time to make the decision that might have a crucial bearing on England's chances of securing a safe passage to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Again Capello proved he is his own man by going against the wishes of the majority of the British media. John Terry, not the press favourite Rio Ferdinand, is the man saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that Capello's instructions are carried out on the field. The powerful Chelsea skipper was the choice of Capello's ill-fated predecessor Steve McClaren but appeared to be slipping behind his Manchester United rival for Capello's vote.

Capello revealed that it was the "big" personality of Terry which tipped the balance in his favour and away from Ferdinand, the new vice-captain who tends to go about his business in a less demonstrative way. "It was not easy for me to choose because they are very good players," said the head coach. "I have chosen John but Rio is still very important to the team." Terry, who wins his 45th international cap in the Wembley friendly against the Czech Republic, will now seek to deploy his inspirational skills to guide England through the difficult Group Six fixtures against Croatia, the nation primarily responsible for the demise of McClaren last year, and Ukraine.

Belarus, Kazakhstan and Andorra make up the group but if Terry and his teammates cannot find a way past those international minnows then Capello, who forged his reputation bringing silverware to AC Milan, Roma, Juventus and Real Madrid, might as well go into premature retirement. Retirement will indeed come early if Capello, who is under contract until the World Cup finals but is budgeting for a further two years, fails to deliver the goods. The new international season begins at Wembley with one of the tougher friendlies on offer against the Czech Republic - a warm-up for the key clash in Croatia next month which comes four days after the group opener away to Andorra. Capello knows his own honeymoon period is over now. "We have to work and play every game like a final," he said. "We need to concentrate on qualifying for the World Cup and we have got the squad to do that. We just need to do it on the pitch."

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