England News

• Nickname:Three Lions
• Founded: 1872
• Manager:Roy Hodgson

• Ground:Wembley Stadium
• Capacity:90,000

Owen calls for captain Rio

26 May 2008 - 17:47:33

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Owen Hargreaves has backed his Manchester United team-mate Rio Ferdinand to be named the England captain on a full-time basis.

Ferdinand captained the England side that lost a friendly to France in March, while Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard led the team in coach Fabio Capello's first game in charge against Switzerland in February.

The Italian coach has yet to decide whether either player - or former captain and Chelsea defender John Terry - will be given the armband on a permanent basis, but Hargreaves believes that Ferdinand is the ideal candidate.

England take on USA and then Trinidad & Tobago in back-to-back friendlies in the coming week.

"There are a lot of individuals who could be captain but Rio has been the most consistent player in England this season," said Hargreaves.

"He epitomises our (Champions League and Premier League) success at United and would be a fabulous captain."