Is it more than just an armband?

So on the eve of England's first match in the 2010 World Cup, a nation waits expectantly to see how their beloved heroes will perform. Preparation for the tournament in South Africa has been marred by scandal and injuries and has meant that the captaincy has changed hands three times over the last year. Capello, forced by the stupidity of Terry and the unfortunate injury to Rio Ferdinand, has decided that Steven Gerrard will be the man to wear the armband for the duration of the competition and England fans will hope that he'll be the man to lift the Jules Rimlet trophy on the 11th of July. Changes in the captaincy so close, to the biggest tournament in Football, would seem to be unsettling to the England camp and it will be interesting to see if there are any noticeable effects. It begs the question, does captaincy in Football really matter?

Steven Gerrard is unquestionably an inspiration to Liverpool Football Club and without him they are a shadow of the side to when he is playing. Time and time again commentators revel in his ability to take the game by the scruff of the neck and turn it his sides way, usually through a piece of individual brilliance. Gerrard has proved that he can change the tempo of a teams performance on numerous occassions and he sets an outstanding example for his side to follow. However, aside from leading from the front, what other roles do a captain undertake? Does Gerrard give team talks before the game? Or have a greater organisational role on the field of play? Is he vocal towards his players throughout? More of an influence off the field and around camp?

It seems to me that captaincy is overstated in Football by many and that Gerrard's role in the World Cup will be minimal on a number of levels. It's pretty likely that he won't be giving team talks before they go out, that role will go to Capello but probably also Pearce. If he plays on the left wing, as he has previously under Capello, then his role in organising the midfield and the rest of the team is likely to be ineffective. Steven doesn't strike me as the most vocal influence in the side, and it seems unfathomable that John Terry's influence in the side has completely diminished since he was asked to step down.

So does the armband matter?