By Craig McWalter
April 16 2002

The Question was who would be named captain after Beckham pulled out of the Squad. Everyone thought it could have benn handed to Gareth Southgate. Read on... Michael Owen will captain England in Wednesday's friendly against Paraguay at Anfield.

The Liverpool striker fills in for regular skipper David Beckham, who broke a bone in his foot last week.

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said Owen was "surprised" when told the news.

Eriksson said: "He was the best footballer in Europe last year and I think he's a very clean and popular one inside and outside England.

"It's up to him to show that he's also a leader and I think he is.

"Michael Owen will be captain for the game and then we'll see when David Beckham is back.

"Hopefully it will be for one game, because that means that Beckham is back.

"If Beckham is not back for the World Cup, which could happen, then I will think about it and see what we're going to do, if it's Michael or someone else in the squad."