John Terry is still sweating on his place in England’s Euro 2012 squad, with the former captain expected to receive a call from new manager Roy Hodgson on Monday to discuss whether he will be in the final 23.
Terry was stripped of the England captaincy after being charged with using racist language directed at Anton Ferdinand. With Anton’s brother, Rio, likely to be included in the squad to be named on Wednesday, Hodgson has two more days to contemplate his first big decision as national team boss.
It is understood Hodgson has been advised that the rift between the pair is irreparable and there is no way it can be put aside for the tournament.
Neither player has spoken to Hodgson yet, though the manager has said he would take counsel from both before naming his squad.
Football Association chairman David Bernstein, who took the decision with his board to take the captaincy from Terry – a process that ended with Fabio Capello resigning as manager – will give Hodgson free rein to make the decision, with the governing body offering guidance only if Hodgson seeks it.
Hodgson has always emphasised the need for team unity in international tournaments after his experience of taking Switzerland to the 1994 World Cup finals.
He has even said that in future he would consider a player’s suitability for being a “good lad” when selecting a squad because of the peculiar pressures of living together for four weeks in a highly pressurised environment.
That would seem to be a problem for Terry and Ferdinand, with a court case pending which sets the Chelsea captain against the Manchester United defender’s brother in July.
With Ferdinand’s form better of late, it seems likely Hodgson will opt for the United man as he will need at least one experienced centre-half going into such a major international tournament.
Despite the obvious reasoning for taking only one of either Terry or Ferdinand, it still represents a major risk, as the three other central defensive players expected to be in the squad – Gary Cahill (fitness permitting), Joleon Lescott and Phil Jones – have never played at a major tournament.
Hodgson is expected to finalise his support staff this week by announcing a younger coach with international experience as his No 2, whose role would be to liaise with the dressing room and ensure that the players remain onside with the manager.
Hodgson is likely to include a clutch of the exciting youngsters who have thrived this season, such as Jones, Kyle Walker and possibly Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Daniel Sturridge. The last’s versatility as a centre-forward and wide man might win him a place in the squad, even though he is struggling to make the Chelsea team.
Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard is favourite to be made captain, given that he should be guaranteed a start if he is fit, while Hodgson has to decide whether to take an extra striker because Wayne Rooney is suspended for the opening two games against France and Sweden.
With Rooney and Danny Welbeck certainties to go, Andy Carroll’s late run of form has put him in prime position among the rest of the contenders with Darren Bent, Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe and possibly Bobby Zamora all battling for the last striker’s spot.
Aston Villa’s Bent ruptured ankle ligaments in February but might be fit for the Euros, with EnglandÕs first game on June 11 against France.
Tottenham’s Scott Parker, who has an Achilles injury, is rated doubtful and Chris Smalling is out with a groin strain but Chelsea’s Cahill is expected to recover from his hamstring injury in time to play in Saturday’s Champions League final against Bayern Munich.
Glen Johnson had an unhappy relationship with Hodgson at Liverpool, so seems unlikely to make the cut, increasing the claims of Manchester City’s Micah Richards.
The bulk of the squad Hodgson names on Wednesday will meet up a week tomorrow to travel to a training camp near Malaga in Spain, though Chelsea players involved in the Champions League final are likely be given extra recovery time.
England then play Norway in Oslo on May 26, followed by Belgium on June 2 at Wembley before they head for EuroÊ2012 and their group games, all in Ukraine. – Daily Mail