LONDON, May 19 ― England boss Roy Hodgson wants Steven Gerrard to remain captain after the World Cup but says that he will wait for the midfielder to decide on his international future first.
Gerard will lead the England squad in Brazil with Frank Lampard as vice-captain. Hodgson named his World Cup squad last Monday, the Daily Mail says.
Gerrard is understood to be distraught after Liverpool failed to clinch the Premier League title this season. However, Hodgson has spoken to Gerrard about his captaincy and backed him to overcome the disappointing domestic campaign, the Daily Mail reported.
“I did at one stage broach the [captaincy] subject with him and he knows I would like him to go on beyond this World Cup because he's still such a good player with Liverpool and in great form and it would be a disappointment for me if he decides: 'No, that's enough for me internationally,'” says Hodgson. He adds, “It's not the right time to talk about it, he knows what I think, but I will be choosing the right moment to bring it up”
England prepares for a pre-World Cup training camp in Portugal today before playing a friendly game against Peru at Wembley on May 30 and further friendlies against Ecuador and Honduras before their opening World Cup match with Italy in Manaus on June 14.
