Terry in synch with new tempo after exit of Eriksson

Though he spoke with the diplomacy that befits an England captain, John Terry produced a damning indictment of Sven Goran Eriksson's approach to friendly internationals yesterday when he admitted players had treated them as a break from the rigours of Premiership football.

Mindful of the need to impress a despondent public after the drudgery of the World Cup, the new England captain and his manager, Steve McClaren, chose the eve of their elevation against Greece to stress the importance of non-competitive fixtures to the development of the team. Neither mentioned the Swede by name, their association with his regime too close to discuss mistakes in depth, but his policy of wholesale substitutions and acquiescence to club managers have, by all accounts, now been consigned to history as England begin a new era in word and deed.

"Maybe in the past we have come away to these squads and half expected to take it easy but yesterday all the players were talking about how sharp the tempo was in training. It was the same as with our clubs the day before a game and that sets the tone throughout the squad," said Terry, who plans to make all England debutants sing in front of their new colleagues - a rite of passage he introduced at Chelsea - but has set aside a time and place for frivolity.

"It wasn't a jolly-up before, it never is when you play for your country, but now, whether it's a friendly or a competitive game, we are coming to win. Maybe we haven't had that in the past but we need to do that in the future. Friendlies are important and we need to learn different formations and give every player a chance. That could take four or five games."

Terry insisted the England squad were acutely aware of the need to improve and to raise their supporters' spirits after the disappointment of Germany. Gone, mercifully, were the rousing statements about the squad's immense potential as a more realistic air prevailed inside Old Trafford. "This is our first chance to lift the fans and the players know that," he added. "We need to put the work and performances in that can take us to the next level. Forget about people saying we are a good team or a bad team, we need to show it through our performances and results."

The Chelsea defender revealed how the man he replaced as England captain, the now deposed David Beckham, was the first person to call with congratulations, and that he hoped to follow his predecessor's fine example in how to handle the public.

"I always learn from my captains, whether it was [Dennis] Wise throwing himself in front of someone or the respect David Beckham shows people on and off the pitch," said Terry. "Becks was the first to call when I heard the news and that was amazing. He wished me good luck, told me to enjoy every minute of it and said he would always be there with advice."

The proudest moment of Terry's career will commence in earnest shortly before 8pm tonight when, as he prepares to walk out of the tunnel at Old Trafford, he will be thinking about "all the coaches who have helped me along the way, my family and especially my mum and dad". Then, amid greater scrutiny than he has ever faced before, a new era for Terry begins. "My game moved to another level when I got the armband at Chelsea and I know I need to do that again with England," he said.