And The England Captain Is…
…. Rio Ferdinand!
Well, that's a bit of a shocker because when Bodog woke up this morning, it was to headlines on the back pages of the papers that the armband was going to good 'ol John Terry. For a terrible few hours, we thought England boss Fabio Capello had dropped a real clanger – because although Terry looks every inch the perfect captain, with his all-shouting, fist-clenching, playing-through-the-pain type bravado, he actually hasn't been very good for a while now. For much of this season he's looked a shadow of his former self.
In the 4-4 draw against Spurs last week he was culpable for at least two of Tottenham's goals, beaten in the air by Jonathan Woodgate (now there is a central defender on form) and Dimitar Berbatov. Against Arsenal at the weekend, he seemed to spend as much of his time crawling around injured as actually doing anything worthwhile. If Capello picks his squads on merit and not reputation – as he says he does – then you've got to seriously question whether Terry should even be in it, let alone considered as captain.
Rio, on the other hand, has been excellent all season and although he's not really seen as a typical English style of captain (more a David Beckham type than a Tony Adams sort), handing him the captaincy is probably long overdue. He's the most talented defender England have, and has plenty of experience at the highest level. As the leader of the team against France in Paris, he'll inspire by winning the ball with a perfectly-executed slide tackle rather than a phlegm-flecked rant, and that's exactly what England need from their senior players right now. As is the message that Capello is sending out by rotating his captains until he makes a permanent decision – you want the armband? Then you've gotta earn it.
Things are certainly hotting up in the football stakes, and with so much to choose from it would be rude not to just let you loose on the Bodog Sportbook. Hell, why not stick your fingers in some money pies!!
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