England: In Need of John Terry's Fighting Spirit

Uncle Roy loves a bit of Terry

International friendlies amidst a busy March full off Premier and Champions League football is never going to make for thrilling viewing. It's a puffed up affair for indecisive managers to make up their mind on a few question marks in their lineups and sponsors to make a few more quid for those willing to pay to watch this level of football.

But as England plod through their night at Wembley with Bendtner FC, it's apparent what they're missing. I know you know where this is going. But there's a reason you know. There's a reason that people are STILL talking about it. Writing silly little blogs insightful pieces on it. England are missing a leader at the back, and arguably the Premier League's best defender -- John Terry. Someone needs to organise that back four and get the ball forward. There's not many better in the game at the moment.

I'm not going to moralise any personal behaviour here, it's been done to death, dug up, turned over, and done again. Considering his position with the national team goes beyond whether you like John Terry 'as a person' or not. The majority of people coming out saying that they'd not support England if Terry were to return aren't really England fans anyways. They aren't watching England try to bore Denmark into an error at Wembley. They aren't travelling the reaches of the globe following their country looking like a Monty Python tribute act. They only have a vague recognition of a game if it's a major tournament. But they seem to have a lot to say. Should these fair-weather 'fans' opinions be the ones most heard? No.

John Terry, quite simply, should be in the England squad for footballing reasons - on and off the pitch. There's not too many England fans, who have put club bias aside, that wouldn't want Terry in Brazil. Whether he's wearing the armband or not, he is a man born to lead -- both to the veterans of the squad, and the ones being tipped to be fill their roles when they begin weighing up retirement in the MLS. Without a player like him in the squad, there lacks a purpose to England's play. And if anything comes into the 18-yard box, it's currently a moment of madness as no one in the current back four has stepped up to fill those very loud and decisive boots.

The return of Mourinho to the Premier League meant more than questionable analogies and comedic headlines. It meant that John Terry was re-instated at the back and has found form which he might not have been able to anticipate himself. Just as he was under Mourinho's first spell at Chelsea, John Terry has been a rock at the back and is one of the best passers of the ball in the game. With his heroics in defence, it's a large part of his game that is often overlooked.Possibly a skill developed to cover for Cech's distribution. But nevermind. Chelsea currently boast the best defensive record in the league and it largely stems from John Terry. Of course he's not alone back there. Terry has developed a great understanding with Gary Cahill to have become a formidable wall in front of Cech -- a partnership that should could continue on for England.

England probably won't win the World Cup. Stranger things have happened, so let's have my moment of optimism. It always feels best before the first match ... Anyways, just because England aren't going in as favourites does not mean that Hodgson shouldn't give them the best possible chance at getting knocked out in the quarter-finals by Portugal out of the group. And that means bringing the best team you can. John Terry may have 'retired' but so had Ben Foster. There's always a way back. And Hodgson should be doing whatever he has to to put together the best side he can. One with a little fight. Because at the end of the day, that's what we all really want. That and to win stuff. But a team with fight is one that you can be proud of. 

Of course, without all that jetting about the world for England games, Terry has been able to devote himself wholeheartedly to Chelsea. With the extra games and training gone, the captain's career has easily been extended beyond his contract at the end of this season. England's loss has been Chelsea's gain.

jb x