England manager Fabio Capello said the off-pitch diversions of recent weeks had not undermined his squad's spirit going into the friendly with Egypt at Wembley tomorrow night.
Capello confirmed England will be captained by Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard in the absence of Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, who will take over when he is fit.
"But tomorrow, it will be Gerrard," Capello told a news conference at England's training ground.
The Italian stripped John Terry of the captaincy following newspaper stories about the central defender's alleged affair with the ex-partner of his former Chelsea team mate Wayne Bridge, who has since retired from the national team.
"He (Terry) knows he will not be captain and he's like the other players, he's training well, he will be the same player in the dressing room," said Capello, who repeated that he did not think Terry would regain the armband under him. "I've told him he has to be the same player as when he was captain.”
Capello explained that while he had spoken to Terry, and the other players, about their behaviour and responsibilities, he had been more concerned about the general attitude of his squad in training.
"Their private troubles are not my problem," he said. "After such a long time, it is more important to me to speak about spirit and to make sure they understand what we have to do - and to be very focused in training.
"And this morning I saw what I wanted to see, so I am happy for that."
The England squad had not gathered since last November when they lost 1-0 to Brazil in Doha with a second-string side and Capello was anxious to recreate the unity that had carried them successfully through their World Cup qualifiers.
"I am really happy as I saw the same thing as I saw when we played in November," added Capello. "After four months away, on the training pitch I found exactly the England I wanted to find and hopefully they will show it on the pitch.
"I learned a lot about what happens in this country when things happen outside the pitch but we have to forget everything.”
Capello said he would select Everton's Leighton Baines or Aston Villa's Stephen Warnock at left back in the absence of the injured Ashley Cole and Bridge's decision not to make himself available for selection.
However, the manager said again he would "leave the door open" for Bridge to change his mind and for other players to perform with such conviction that they could force their way into his squad.