Steven Gerrard has hit out at former England manager Fabio Capello for not believing in him to captain the Three Lions at the World Cup four years ago.

Gerrard skippered his country in the 2010 edition of the competition in the absence of Rio Ferdinand, who suffered a knee injury prior to the tournament.

England ultimately bowed out in the last-16 stage to Germany, and the 34-year-old - who is poised to lead his nation in Brazil under Roy Hodgson - feels that he was Capello's third choice for the armband.

"Capello didn't believe in me as his number one captain," he told reporters. "He did believe in me as a player, he rated me as a player, and our relationship was fine.

"But at the time we picked the captain, he had Rio Ferdinand and John Terry and he thought they offered something different. I was third-choice up to him.

"This is the second time I've been captain at a World Cup, but this time it's for real."

Hodgson's side kick off their campaign by facing Italy next Saturday.