Capello names Terry as England captain for U.S. friendly

John Terry will captain England in their friendly against the United States on Wednesday, manager Fabio Capello said on Tuesday.

Terry was left distraught last Wednesday after missing the penalty that would have won the Champions League final for Chelsea against Manchester United in Moscow but Capello said the player was ready to lead his country at Wembley Stadium.

"The captain is John Terry. I decided before what happened (in the Champions League final)," the Italian said at his pre-match news conference at Arsenal's training ground at London Colney.

Speaking in English publicly for the first time since his appointment as England coach last December, Capello said: "I think at this moment it is a good decision for John Terry after his not nice Wednesday."

Asked if Terry had recovered from his traumatic experience in Moscow which reduced him to tears, Capello replied: "I think he is very well. He has trained very well and when I told him he was going to be the captain he was very, very happy."

"It is very important to be a leader and John Terry is a leader," he said.

Capello said it was also important for him that the four Chelsea players on the losing side in Moscow should play again as soon as possible. He said Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Ashley Cole and Terry would all play a part against the United States and also in next Sunday's friendly in Trinidad & Tobago.