Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand says England's players are delighted Fabio Capello has agreed a new deal to 2012.

Capello had previously reached a verbal agreement with former FA chairman Lord Triesman to stay until 2012 and he firmed up that commitment this week by removing a clause in his current four-year deal that would allow either the Italian or his employers to activate a break following this summer's World Cup.

With his future sorted, Capello can concentrate on England's Group C opener against the United States on 12 June and said: "I am very happy about this and would like to thank Sir David Richards and the FA for their continued support and assurances about my future.

"I always wanted to stay until the end of my contract. In South Africa, we are totally focused on the World Cup."