Intro:

Wayne Rooney was named England captain on Thursday (August 28), taking over the leadership role of an inexperienced team in a rebuilding phase following its worst-ever World Cup.

Script:

SOUNDBITE (English) Roy Hodgson, England manager

I think he certainly deserves it. His commitment to the cause, his experience, the fact that he has already captained England in the past and now, of course, he has the responsibility (of captaining) Manchester United. All of those factors weighed in in my thought process. But I am pleased to say that I am able to offer it to him. I have had a long conversation with him. And he is prepared to accept the pressures that the England captaincy brings.

SOUNDBITE (English) Roy Hodgson, England manager

I have got to say during the two years that he has been with me I have have had no reason whatsoever any time to question anything about him. His character, his desire to play for country, his whole hearted willingness to offer himself in every conceivable situation. So, for me, I am not concerned about that but he has that baggage with him and he will have to accept that as a further part of the the pressure I guess along the way. Because you can't draw a line over the past.

SOUNDBITE (English) Roy Hodgson, England manager

What he needs, of course, is to be a captain for a winning and a team that has got some good players around him that can excite everybody and we will only do that when we 'A' win matches and 'B', in particular, get to a final tournament and do a lot, lot better than what we were able to do on this occasion.