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Lampard says players were ready to defy poppy ban

Frank Lampard will deputise for John Terry as England captain © Getty Images

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Frank Lampard believes it will be his "proudest moment in an England shirt" when he captains the side against Spain at Wembley on Saturday - and says that the team would have considered defying FIFA over its poppy ban.

Lampard has been handed the armband for the Three Lions' friendly against the World Cup holders, with John Terry left out due to ongoing controversy and Steven Gerrard sidelined through injury.

Lampard, who has previously only led the national team in an away friendly against Denmark, believes it will be the best night of his international career.

"It will be my proudest moment in an England shirt," Lampard said. "I've had a few of them, playing in major tournaments, but to lead out my country at Wembley will be a very special moment for me.

"We're playing the best team in the world, and probably the best international team in a long, long time. We've all watched them, we've all seen the qualities they have so we're all aware of what we're up against."

Terry will resume the captaincy for the second friendly against Sweden on Tuesday, a decision which Lampard insists he has no problem with. The Chelsea midfielder is adamant his team-mate for both club and country is not being affected by the current race row and will return to action the same player he always was.

"It's not difficult at all. I have no wishes to hold onto the armband, to keep it," he said. "I'm 33 now - John's the captain and he's a good captain.

"He's coping [with everything] just fine. We've all had our moments in football, our difficult times for whatever reason, and John's a strong character - everyone knows that - and he's coped fine with that.

"I can say I've worked with John for a long time, as a professional and a friend, and he's always been fantastic. Other than that I can't comment.

"When he plays on Tuesday or in the future you will see the same John Terry."

Poppies have been the other item at the top of the news agenda in the past few days, with the Football Association finally reaching an agreement with FIFA for players to wear the token of remembrance on a black armband, after a request to wear them on the shirt was twice rejected.

Lampard implied that the players would have considered ignoring FIFA's decision, had the FA not reached a compromise.

"It's a huge thing for us, you have to give a lot of thanks and credit to the FA. We as players owe a lot to the military boys, we see a lot of them at every game and I think if we were to be running out and not be showing our respects then we would be letting them down," he said. "It's something the players feel very strongly about and fortunately the decision was made before we arrived [for training].

"I wouldn't say we considered defying it, but we would have sat down and asked 'How important is this to us?' because as I said before the soldiers are the reason we are here. Playing for England we want to show that.

"We would have discussed things with the FA. [But] I think the right way was found."

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