Fabio Capello resigns as England coach over John Terry saga

Euro 2012 / Michael Lintorn / 08 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Fabio Capello lost none of his nine matches in charge in 2011

"Many in the media have been campaigning for Redknapp to be given the gig since England’s disappointing World Cup in South Africa."

Harry Redknapp is expected to lead England at Euro 2012 after it was confirmed on Wednesday evening that Fabio Capello has stepped down...

England are looking for a new manager just four months before Euro 2012 after Fabio Capello chose to resign following a meeting with the FA on Wednesday surrounding their decision to axe John Terry as captain.

That course of action last Friday seemed to be largely backed by the public in the immediate aftermath, however Capello expressed his disapproval on Italian television on Sunday, setting him on a collision course with his bosses.

Many are questioning whether he walked or was cornered into quitting by chairman David Bernstein - who he perhaps felt had undermined his authority - but either way it is a brave call, marking the first time in his career that he will leave a position without winning a title.

Harry Redknapp, cleared of all charges of tax evasion earlier in the day, is understandably fancied to replace the Italian tactician, though it is suggested that a compromise may need to be reached allowing him to work for both Tottenham and the national team until May.

Many in the media have been campaigning for Redknapp to be given the gig since England's disappointing World Cup in South Africa in 2010, and Capello has received hostile treatment since, despite doing a reasonable job in that period.

His final matches in charge were 1-0 friendly victories over Spain and Sweden in Wembley last November after sealing a spot at Euro 2012, so he exits on a high, even if like Sven-Goran Eriksson, he is likely to be remembered - harshly in this writer's opinion - as a failure.

Beyond Redknapp, the English candidates are relatively scarce, with Roy Hodgson, Alan Pardew and Stuart Pearce also being mentioned.

The FA, who will hold a press conference on Thursday, have played down the prospect of searching overseas, but should they rethink that policy, Sky Sports claim that Guus Hiddink is interested.

England's Euro 2012 odds remain unmoved thus far, with the Three Lions fourth favourites at [10.5].

It's not necessarily the most laudable stance to take, but the logic behind Fabio Capello's latest defence of John Terry is easy to follow, argues Michael Lintorn......

The England captaincy will change hands for the third time in two years after the FA decided to remove John Terry from the position once again......

England's chances of winning Euro 2012 were boosted by the news that Uefa reduced Wayne Rooney's initial three-match ban to two, which will allow him to play the final group game aginst hosts Ukraine....

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John Terry should stand down from England squad

Internationals / Richard Aikman / 05 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

The FA acted decisively but they should have gone further and dropped Terry

"Even if you believe England's Euro 2012 prospects to be weaker without Terry in the squad, surely there are more important things at stake here."

James Eastham applauds the FA's decision to strip John Terry of the England captaincy and calls on the Chelsea defender to step down from national team...

If John Terry truly has the leadership skills worthy of an England captain then he should stand down from international duty until he proves his innocence. Being a good captain is not about looking after number one, it is about looking after the well-being of the group, and whether he is guilty of racially aggravated public order or not, his continued presence in the England camp can only be detrimental to the unity within the squad. Standing down is the only way he can salvage any respect.

It's sad that after all the work the FA, the Premier League and the League Managers Association have done to stamp out racism - action that has proudly set them apart from federations elsewhere in the world ? recent months have been dominated by high-profile race rows. But it is precisely because of their strong stance that these issues have emerged. Rather than brush thorny issues under the carpet, as would happen in most countries, the FA have shown firm resolve in the matter and should be commended for it.

David Bernstein, the FA's president, was hardly helped by the decision to cowtow to Chelsea's request and delay Terry's hearing until July 9. Apparently, it would have been an inconvenience for their £170,000-a-week defender to interrupt his busy season to answer charges. And so, with the prospect of an alleged racist leading a multi-ethnic party to the European Championships, Bernstein rightly stripped the 31-year-old of the armband.

The only problem is, Bernstein did not go far enough. However good the Chelsea centre-half is deemed to be, unless he is removed entirely from the equation the unity of the squad will be undermined. As Jason Roberts said earlier this week, "'Believe me, the dressing room at the Euros will be toxic unless the correct decision is made. I do not believe that the England captain should go to the Euros." Indeed, one wonders whether internal divisions at Stamford Bridge might not be responsible for Chelsea's current campaign, which has been stuttering ever since that fateful day at Loftus Road on October 23. (They have won just six of 14 league matches since and find themselves a massive [180.00] to win the league).

Even if you believe England's Euro 2012 prospects to be weaker without Terry in the squad, surely there are more important things at stake here. To be honest, most football supporters couldn't care less who is captain of their country - or indeed their club - so long as the ambassadorial role does not go to somebody whose very sight makes your skin crawl. Terry's repeated indiscretions over the years simply do not make him worthy of the shirt let alone the captaincy, which incidentally earns the chosen skipper an extra £1m a year. As John Barnes said on Sportsweek today, "If John Terry is deemed too racist to captain England, then why isn't he too racist to play for England?"

It is only fair that one should be considered innocent until proven guilty, and it must be this, as well as the fact that Fabio Capello has sided staunchly with his captain throughout this latest sorry episode, that prevented Bernstein from taking a harder line. But an England captain, for want of a better phrase, should be whiter than white and so should any England player. It is with this is mind that the FA have decided to introduce an England charter to which all called-up players must sign up, agreeing to a code of conduct that if breached, will result in a pre-established disciplinary measures.

This is how far football has stooped. So detached and entitled have our elite modern-day footballers become that they require a handbook to tell them how ordinary human beings should behave. It has come too late for Terry - the book should have been thrown at him a long time ago - but let us hope he at least has the good sense to step down - or better still quit international football altogether.

It's two wins and two clean sheets for England, whilst in Dublin the party is in full swing as Republic of Ireland qualify for Euro 2012....

With a commanding 4-0 lead from the first leg, Giovanni Trapattoni's men are shoo-ins to reach next summer's tournament in Ukraine and Poland, writes James Eastham....

After England's excellent victory over Spain it's inevitable that the nation expect a follow-up win against Sweden; but Mike Norman expects this game (and the result) to be completely different....

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