20.11.13

Hodgson determined to move forward without recalling Terry for Brazil

Roy Hodgson has ruled out the idea of making an emergency World Cup call to John Terry.
Hodgson claimed he would rather ‘keep moving forward’ than coax Terry from his self-imposed international exile as suggested by former England defender and radio pundit Danny Mills.

‘John retired a long time ago, right at the start of our qualifying campaign,’ said England boss Hodgson.

Decision made: England boss Roy Hodgson has said he has no plans to recall John Terry to the England squad
Decision made: England boss Roy Hodgson has said he has no plans to recall John Terry to the England
squad

Last ditch: Terry has retired from international football but some pundits believe he be asked to return to the international stage for the World Cup in Brazil
Last ditch: Terry has retired from international football but some pundits believe he be asked to return to the international stage for the World Cup in Brazil
‘We’ve played nine games without him and we’ve qualified without losing a game.
'Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka have done a good job at centre back and Chris Smalling showed against Germany that he is a very good centre back in the making.

‘Phil Jones didn’t get so much of a chance to show what he can do, but he is there as well.
England's Gary Cahill
Phil Jagielka of England in action
First choice: If fit Phil Jagielka (left)  is likely to partner Gary Cahill (right) at centre back for England in Brazil 

Chile's Sanchez Alexis and England's Phil Jones (right) battle for the ball
Chris Smalling of England runs with the ball
Versatile: Chris Smalling (left) can fill in at right-back and Phil Jones (right) can play in midfield if needed
So I think it is time for us to keep moving forward and not every time we lose a game start to turn back to someone who has been a fantastic player in the past.

‘Who knows, if John had played maybe he wouldn’t have had a good game. We don’t know that.’
Terry played in the first qualifier of England’s World Cup campaign in Moldova last year when he was injured in a 5-0 win but ignored Hodgson’s advice to come off and rest because all the substitutes were on.
Proud Englishman: John Terry won 78 caps for England before announcing his international retirement
Proud Englishman: John Terry won 78 caps for England before announcing his international retirement

Cleared: FA chairman David Bernstein pursued a disciplinary case against Terry (left) for allegations of racist abuse against Anton Ferdinand (right) even after he had been cleared in a criminal court.
The injury ruled him out of a draw four days later against Ukraine and he announced his retirement after 78 caps before the month was out.

It was a move closely linked to his deteriorating relationship with FA chairman David Bernstein and the decision to pursue a disciplinary case against Terry for allegations of racist abuse against  Anton Ferdinand, even after he had been cleared in a criminal court.
Bernstein has since been replaced by Greg Dyke as FA chairman and there were hints towards the end of last season that Terry missed playing for England and might be willing to reconsider his position.

Mills, who won 19 caps and has been appointed to serve on Dyke’s FA commission to study the future of the England team, called for Terry to be recalled between England’s friendly defeats at home by Chile and Germany.

Terry’s form this season has been good for Chelsea and with his mentor Jose Mourinho back at the club, he has started every game in the Barclays Premier League.
Chelsea captain: Terry's contract expires at the end of the season
Chelsea captain: Terry's contract expires at the end of the season
The defender is 33 next month, out of contract at the end of the season and all questions about his future have been met with a standard response that he intends to keep performing well for his club.
With his focus on impressing Mourinho, he is not likely to be tempted to make the first move out of retirement, especially when Hodgson has made it so clear that it is time to move on.

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