Rio Ferdinand has been assured that he is still England captain, but Fabio Capello now appears certain to turn to John Terry if the Manchester United defender is not fit for the Euro 2012 qualifying match against Wales.
Franco Baldini, the England general manager, spoke to Ferdinand over the weekend to explain Capello’s thinking after it emerged that the manager has given serious consideration to reinstating Terry as captain 13 months after stripping him of the honour.
It was made clear to Ferdinand that he, not Terry, will be captain if he is available for the match against Wales at the Millennium Stadium on March 26, but that, with Steven Gerrard already ruled out, an alternative will have to be sought otherwise.
Ferdinand is due to resume training with United today, having not played since injuring his calf during the warm-up for a Barclays Premier League match away to Wolverhampton Wanderers on February 5. He is understood to be eager to join up with the England squad next week in advance of the Wales game, but Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager, indicated over the weekend that the 32-year-old will not be fit in time.
“Rio has been doing a bit of running,” Ferguson said. “He will be ready for the game after the internationals [the Premier League match away to West Ham United on April 2]. I would not have thought he would have a chance before that. I don’t think it would be wise for him to be called up by England. He hasn’t played for us since January.”
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Previously, the absence of Ferdinand and Gerrard, who underwent groin surgery on Friday, would lead Capello to turn to Frank Lampard, who was captain for the friendly victory away to Denmark last month, and then Wayne Rooney. But Terry’s professionalism during last month’s get-together, which was his first time with the squad since August, has led Capello to reappraise the situation.
Terry lost the captaincy in February last year after a succession of unedifying headlines about his off-the-pitch conduct culminated in a High Court case as he sought an injunction against the publication of allegations that he had an extra-marital affair with the former partner of Wayne Bridge, who was due to be part of England’s World Cup finals squad last summer. Capello stripped Terry of the captaincy, citing the importance to do “what is best for all of the England team”, and Bridge promptly retired from international football.
Capello’s resistance to Terry’s claims was such that Ashley Cole and Gareth Barry were given the armband while the Chelsea captain was still on the pitch in the second half of the match in Copenhagen. That reflected a similar situation against Egypt 12 months ago, after which Terry said: “I think they would have given it to one of the stewards ahead of me. Even if it was a friendly, we were still there to win and you should put your best people in charge. People might not like to hear this, but I just thought it was a bit disrespectful.”
Capello felt the need to reconsider Terry because Ferdinand and Gerrard, 30, have endured injury problems this season. But the Denmark friendly, in which Lampard was captain, was the first time that both Ferdinand and Gerrard had been absent from an England squad since a weakened team lost to Brazil in a friendly in Doha, Qatar, in November 2009.
Indeed, Terry has endured fitness and availability issues of his own this season and attracted awkward questions from Capello and Baldini when he missed the Euro 2012 qualifying matches against Bulgaria and Switzerland in September, with a hamstring injury, and Montenegro in October, with a back problem, despite not missing a Chelsea match over the same period. When the defender returned to the squad for the friendly matches against France and Denmark, the prospect of him being entrusted with the captaincy appeared remote.
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Capello faced heavy criticism yesterday from Graham Taylor, one of his predecessors, who said that the Italian no longer has any authority over his squad and should be replaced by Harry Redknapp immediately.
Authority figures: those who could lead
RIO FERDINAND Fitness was always the concern when Fabio Capello promoted him to the captaincy — and the reason why Sir Alex Ferguson overlooked him in favour of Nemanja Vidic at Manchester United. His availability has been a serious issue, but he has appeared in two more Euro 2012 qualifiers than Terry.
STEVEN GERRARD What’s that you say? He never turns up? Last month’s friendly in Denmark ended a run of 12 consecutive international appearances, eight as captain. Introverted at times, but some argued for him to be given the captaincy permanently after he impressed in Ferdinand’s absence in September’s opening Euro 2012 qualifiers.
FRANK LAMPARD Far less vocal than Terry or Ferdinand, but a respected figure who rarely attracts controversy on or off the pitch. Third in line for the captaincy, but, at nearly 33, he is no longer a guaranteed starter in midfield.
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WAYNE ROONEY If there was public support for this idea 12 months ago, when he was in the form of his life, enthusiasm has waned. Entrusting him with the captaincy on any more than a temporary basis is a non-starter until he rediscovers the verve and maturity he showed for most of last season.
JOHN TERRY Without doubt the most natural leader, but if it was worth stripping him of the captaincy last year — and not everyone is convinced it was — is it really worth the trouble of reinstating him now? He, too, has appeared infrequently for England this season and his position is under threat in the long term.
ASHLEY COLE Yes he has popularity issues, but he is a world-class player and has begun to enjoy a little more respect of late. Besides, for all the “bad boy” reputation, it is not as if he has shot anyone, is it? Well, not this month anyway.
Words by Oliver Kay