Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand says Liverpool ace Steven Gerrard deserves great credit for the spirit shown inside the England camp.
Ferdinand has been impressed by how Gerrard has managed to encourage that collectiveness under his captaincy since his appointment by Roy Hodgson.
He told The Sun: "I'm sure Stevie, from his own experiences, realises the importance of team bonding.
"He has been chosen as the leader by Roy Hodgson when, before, I don't think managers properly trusted him as captain, even when they gave him the armband.
"Steven will know, like I did, that you can't have people being left on the fringes, not being included, and he has made a real effort to support all the players. He has more than 90 caps but this feels as if it is his defining moment in an England shirt.
"Stevie has won the Champions League with Liverpool and, if he could help win the Euros for his country, that would be some double.
"He is leading by example, has had three assists and taken on all the responsibility really well. He wants to be the one the team relies on."