




 
Steven Gerrard, England captain for tonight’s friendly against Egypt, says the role still has deep meaning for him. Photograph: Sean Dempsey/PA

 
 
Steven Gerrard is the most unlikely of forgotten players. If his performances were not vivid enough, the record books confirm that he has won some of the highest individual awards at domestic and European football. Nonetheless, he does not look currently like a man enjoying his status among the elite.
It is improbable that the midfielder will be feeling complacent this evening simply because he is captain for the friendly with Egypt. The post is his because John Terry has been stripped of the armband and an injured Rio Ferdinand cannot do it. There is nothing to distract Gerrard from the truth that this is a season of hard toil.
Liverpool are advancing in the Europa League, but the gruelling priority is to qualify for next season’s Champions League. Dwindling numbers record the toll being taken of Gerrard. He has scored on eight occasions for his club so far in this campaign. Over the two previous seasons he scored a total of 45 goals for Liverpool.
The player himself would hardly need to read the statistics. He has felt the struggle in his bones, but is too frank to pin all the blame on aches and pains. “I suffered with a couple of injuries and with a bit of confidence with my form throughout the season, which I’m over now,” he admitted.
That emphasis on a recent resurgence is not wishful thinking. Gerrard’s goals against Unirea Urziceni and Blackburn last week saw him score in consecutive matches for the first time in this campaign. “The last six or seven games, I’ve been really happy with my form,” said Gerrard.
At a time when many are fragile, it will encourage Capello if the midfielder is rediscovering his dynamism. The jibes about “Stevie Me” are not merely tedious; they also miss the point that his individualism can have a high value. Gerrard may not control matches but he can decide them and that will always be a precious quality.
The England manager has striven to give the player licence. Gerrard enjoys the scope that comes with a relatively free role from an attacking position towards the left. With the World Cup finals in sight, the moment has come to make more of that post.
Following the upheaval and bad publicity that ended with Terry being relieved of the captaincy, it is a priority, too, for Gerrard to challenge the idea of impending doom. He would, for instance, have nothing to do with the suggestion that injury to Wayne Rooney would be the end of England. “What does that say about the rest?” Gerrard snapped. “Are we all crap then?”
Within a moment he was diplomatic once more on the topic of Rooney. “On current form he’s the best in the world,” said the midfielder. There has been an effort by the manager to emphasise the responsibility that these famous players should bear.
Gerrard confirmed that Capello had addressed the squad on Monday. “It was short and sweet,” said the midfielder, “and he told us to focus on the football. He reiterated that we have responsibilities both on and off the pitch.” The demotion of Terry was a reminder, if anyone needed it, of Capello’s trenchant ways. “It’s a tough job being the England manager,” said Gerrard, “and you’ve got to make big decisions. He’s done that and we all follow.”
The player appealed for there to be no booing of the former captain tonight. Even the Terry imbroglio should recede as the World Cup finals fill everyone’s gaze. This evening’s game ought to remind everyone of the necessity of concentrating on the work in hand. Egypt neglected to qualify for the tournament in South Africa but they still stand 10th in the world rankings, a place behind England. With the triumph in January, they have now taken the Africa Cup of Nations three times in a row.
There cannot be any naivety left in Gerrard, who first led England six years ago, but the captaincy is an honour still filled with meaning for him. If this country makes more than most of the position, that is a tradition full of merit in the player’s mind.
“Every kid dreams of being England captain,” said Gerrard. “I was no different. I don’t really care what other countries think about the captaincy. You have to earn the right to be England captain. It’s disrespecting the captaincy [to simply give it to the oldest or most capped player]. It’s massive over here, and rightly so.”
Gerrard wanted to convey a tone of seriousness and said that his wife would not be travelling to the World Cup unless England reached the semi-finals. “Is that OK with you?” he said sardonically to the press. That was the smallest of barbs, yet it indicated how embattled and, indeed, irritated footballers have become since John Terry’s conduct made the headlines.

 
 
 
Dynamic Steven Gerrard still proud to wear the England armband | Kevin McCarra