Former Chelsea player Marcel Desailly does not believe that Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard has the right qualities to replace John Terry as England captain.
The 32-year-old was named as Terry's successor with the Three Lions after the Chelsea centre-back was stripped of the captaincy following allegations of racial abuse towards Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand.
Terry was forced to relinquish the skipper's role but took his international future into his own hands at the weekend by retiring from the England squad altogether.
"I'm disappointed for John since he is a quality player," The Express quotes Desailly as saying. "The English team loses a lot. John is a leader. He is the captain, Steven Gerrard is not. Gerrard is a soloist. In the life of the group, the leader is John Terry."
Meanwhile, Terry's hearing with the Football Association regarding racism claims has entered its third day at Wembley Stadium.
