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Terry Pushes Capello's Faith
England: Terry pushes Capello's faith
Marc Fox
The ramifications of John Terry's supposed outburst against Fabio Capello's handling of England's World Cup campaign might well end up costing Joe Cole a place against the Slovenians this Wednesday.
Terry's unbending support to former team-mate Cole could hardly have been construed as a surprise in the England camp – even though his forced apology did concede he showed a lack of respect to some of the less talented members of Capello's 23.
The Chelsea skipper has been a vocal supporter of Cole's maverick talents ever since the news of his summer departure from Stamford Bridge – most likely destination Old Trafford – was confirmed before the World Cup started.
And there's little doubt he and the other Chelsea players in the squad would have privately offered their disbelief about Cole's continued absence from the Italian's matchday 14.
The problem is the momentum behind Cole's inclusion against Group C leaders Slovenia was already gathering pace without Terry's forthright contribution.
Capello has earmarked one or two selection changes with Emile Heskey's absent goalscoring threat likely to have done for his participation on Wednesday.
The manager's insistence on sticking to the successful formula from World Cup qualifying would seem to place Jermain Defoe in the box seat to partner Wayne Rooney.
But the England team practiced playing a 4-5-1 system during training on Monday with Rooney upfront alone, and this is the system that many believe could bring out the best in the Manchester United striker as well as Cole.
Such a switch might also see a return to the first team for Shaun Wright-Phillips, who has shown glimpses in two substitute appearances.
Wright-Phillips could switch to a 4-3-3 more efficiently than Aaron Lennon, the Spurs winger who is much more an out-and-out wideman. Moreover, he and Cole occasionally operated in that system together under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea.
For Terry, his actions in that ill-fated press briefing were perhaps borne from a desperation to resume unofficial leadership of the group of players he so often talks about and would love to call his own.
It is likely that some of his personal sentiments are the changes the England players have privately been endorsing, but when it came to stand by their man no one was brave enough to front up to cool Capello.
The Italian again got his judgement spot on by nipping any talk of mutiny in the bud and chastising Terry.
For his part, the Chelsea captain knows he's on safe ground because Capello cannot afford to lose him ahead of being forced to play his fifth different central defensive partnership in five outings against the Slovenians.
Terry will partner Matthew Upson of West Ham in that match after previous pairings of Rio Ferdinand and Ledley King and Ferdinand and Terry in the pre-World Cup friendly wins against Mexico and Japan, and King and Carragher's appearances against the USA and Algeria, respectively.
© Marc Fox & Soccerphile.com
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