John Terry has vowed to fight to seize back the England captain’s armband that Rio Ferdinand wore last night as England lost 1-0 to France in Fabio Capello’s second match in charge. The Chelsea captain is known to have been upset at being passed over, a response that will probably delight the manager.

The Italian is determined to keep the players on their toes and Terry has a challenge to reclaim the captaincy, but the Chelsea defender said that he would not be compromising his approach, even though he has drawn criticism, particularly for rounding on referees. Last night, he did himself few favours, being beaten by Nicolas Anelka in the incident that led to France’s penalty. The Chelsea captain was later substituted after a below-par performance.

Capello hinted at concerns with Terry on Tuesday, but the player is not about to rein back. “I get frustrated and I like to make my point,” Terry told ICON magazine in an interview published yesterday. “You have to be careful not to rant and rage. As captain, I am entitled to ask questions. If a referee explains his decision I will walk away.

“Do you know how many times I have been sent off? Once. If you ask the man in the street, he will say five, six, seven or eight times. Being passionate has got me where I am today. I do set an example in the way I play. If they don’t want an England captain fighting for England in every way possible, fighting to win the ball and come out of the tackle, fighting for the cause, then that’s down to them to make that decision.

“While I am captain, I am not going to change the way I am on the pitch. When I’m off the pitch, I will be as nice as pie. But as soon as I cross the white line, I am there to win the game.

“The money, the lifestyle, counts for nothing, it’s about the performance. More than the performance, it’s the winning. I am not going to change. It’s for the people in charge, the new manager, to make their decision.

“If Mr Capello wants someone who is going to go out there, desperate to win and to do everything it takes, then I’ll be his right choice. If not, that’s down to him to make the decision.”

Terry was known to be wounded on Tuesday at the manner in which he found out about the captaincy. In his brusque manner, Capello simply wandered up to Ferdinand as he was eating lunch to say that he would wear the armband. The Chelsea defender was required to put on a brave face.

Terry will hope to be given his chance to lead the team under Capello when England face the United States at Wembley in May. “I want to keep that armband,” Terry said. “I am really passionate about it. It means so much to me, to my family. Mr Capello is a clever man and a great manager and he’ll give it to the right person.”

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