Terry: I’ll never give up my armband

JOHN TERRY insists he never considered stepping down as England captain after leading them in last night’s friendly victory at home to Sweden.

An own goal from Daniel Majstorovic was enough to secure Terry’s side the victory at a half-full Wembley.

The Celtic defender headed past his own goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson — England’s 2,000th goal — when under pressure from Gareth Barry.

Terry, pleased by the night’s work, insisted he never thought about relinquishing the armband as he finds himself accused of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand at Loftus Road last month — allegations he strenuously denies.

“No chance,” he said. “I would never step down. It [being England captain] is something I dreamed of as a boy.

“When I was four or five years old I used to watch England games and it’s something I dreamed of being. I worked very hard to get here. I’m very passionate, very confident being England captain and very proud to be, also. It’s a great achievement, walking the side out, and I’m very proud to do that.”

Terry said of the Wembley crowd: “I said the England fans have always been great with me and the players, they are always behind us win, lose or draw. They get upset at times — like we all do — we’re very passionate and that’s what makes us the very best.

“We’ve got a great set of fans, and some great performances at the moment, so if we can keep that momentum for the next six months then things will be a lot better.”

ENGLAND: Hart (Carson 46), Walker, Cahill, Terry, Baines, Rodwell (Milner 58), Jones, Barry, Walcott (Sturridge 58), Zamora (Bent 70), Downing.

SWEDEN: Isaksson, Lustig, Mellberg, Majstorovic, Martin Olsson, Wernbloom, Kallstrom, Larsson, Elmander, Elm, Ibrahimovic.

Ref: P Kralovec (Czech Republic).