England v Czechs preview

Terry to lead out England in final friendly before qualifiers

By James Dall   Last updated: 20th August 2008

John Terry Fabio Capello England news conference

Capello: England's future in his hands

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John Terry will lead out England as captain at Wembley on Wednesday evening in his country's international friendly against Czech Republic.

Chelsea centre-back Terry was announced as head coach Fabio Capello's permanent skipper on Tuesday after the Italian had previously rotated the armband.

The fixture, Capello's fifth friendly in charge, is the final warm-up match before England open their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign with back-to-back away qualifiers against Andorra and Croatia in September.

Capello has so far won three of his four games at the helm, with his sole defeat coming against France in March, and will be keen to head into the forthcoming competitive encounters with a victory over the Czechs under his belt.

Czech Republic - currently six places above England in Fifa's world rankings, lying eighth - travel to London with Petr Rada set to make his bow as manager since being promoted from his assistant role.

Surprise selection

Rada succeeded former chief Karel Bruckner as national head coach following the Czechs' disappointing showing at Euro 2008, where they failed to advance to the knockout stages.

England goalkeepers Joe Hart, Paul Robinson, and David James are all vying for a starting berth with the latter likely to land his 40th cap.

Manchester United's Wes Brown looks set to operate at right-back with skipper Terry to partner vice-captain Rio Ferdinand in the heart of defence.

Chelsea team-mates Ashley Cole and Wayne Bridge could play 45 minutes apiece in their natural left-back positions, while Capello must decide on whether to implement a four or five-man midfield.

Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole are all poised to start while Gareth Barry, David Beckham, David Bentley and Stewart Downing are pushing for roles.

Up front, Jermain Defoe, in Michael Owen's absence through injury, may play alongside surprise selection Emile Heskey, with Wayne Rooney and Theo Walcott also at Capello's disposal.

Baros

For the Czechs, former Aston Villa, Liverpool and Portsmouth striker Milan Baros, currently at Lyon, should start, while Petr Cech and Marek Matejovsky are the only British-based players in the 18-man squad.

Chelsea shot-stopper Cech will be aiming to bounce back from his error against Turkey at Euro 2008, but Reading midfielder Matejovsky is a doubt through injury.

Rada will be without long-term injury victim Tomas Rosicky, while former Arsenal trainee Michal Papadopoulos will be looking to establish himself as the country's top forward following the retirement of veteran Jan Koller after Euro 2008.