Dream come true for Rio

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand believes Roy Keane was the best captain he played for after the former West Ham and Leeds star was confirmed as the skipper for England's friendly international against France in Paris.

England manager Fabio Capello insists he has not yet decided who will be his permanent captain after giving Steven Gerrard the responsibility for last month's friendly with Switzerland.

Ferdinand is proud to be handed the captain's armband for Wednesday's game though, saying: "For me to get the captaincy for my country is a dream come true and this is the biggest honour I've ever had.

"Of course, winning titles is unbelievable as well but I don't think you can compare the two to be honest. This is a great honour in itself.

"How many people are named as England captain? Not many and to be named alongside a list of illustrious players is a great achievement in itself.

"I'll be wearing that armband with as much pride as anyone in the past.

"Roy Keane was a fantastic captain. He led by example and played ever so well, getting marks of seven, eight or nine out of ten every game.

"He was a man amongst men and, if questions needed to be answered, he was normally the first or second person to do that. He was a great captain and symbolic of Manchester United.

"What do I say to people who say I shouldn't be captain? The easiest way to say it's the past is the past. People move on in their lives and mature, step up to the plate and become better people for having been through those situations.

"If someone does something wrong in their life, do you shut the door on them totally? I don't think that is the right way.

"I'm sure this manager hasn't looked into the past and taken things in the past into account. He sees what he sees in the present and he deems me the man at the moment to wear the armband."