Terry to learn fate by weekend

The news this morning still concentrates on the Terry affair and its possible implications for the England World Cup squad. Thankfully Fabio Capello is close to returning after knee surgery and we can probably expect a decision on the captaincy by the time he flies off to Warsaw for the Euro 2012 qualifying draw. At least that’s what some of the UK papers are saying today.

Here’s The Guardian, which says Terry is considering resigning the captain’s job but has also indicated he would like to carry on. So we’re no further forward there. The same paper also has an article on past disputes between players, reflecting that “We should perhaps be relieved that British footballers more commonly have a penchant for thumping one another than for nursing grievances for a decade.”

The Independent also has Terry considering resignation, according to “Sources close to the England captain.” Of course these are very likely to be the same sources which used Manchester City’s interest in Terry to leverage another lucrative contract from Chelsea last summer. It seems we are in for a propaganda war where a player allows anonymous sources to put his case but is able to distance himself from the statements if he chooses.

In the same pages James Lawton says “the late Bobby Moore or Franco Baresi... led by example – and by trust.” Can Terry do the same now?

The “agonising” continues in The Times, which also has the cuckolded Wayne Bridge threatening to call time on his international career substantially later than everybody else. Still, muses another Times columnist, if Terry goes to South Africa at least his team mates can keep an eye on him there.

Now for the good news – we can all get on with our lives once the Terry affair is sorted out. Unless you are the mystery household name who has also played home and away with “French lingerie model” Vanessa Perroncel.

Here’s a view of the whole affair from a British writer on the other side of the Atlantic: “If fans start booing him – in the kind of mass public moral outrage that we saw with Cashley [Ashley Cole] – where will it stop? What about judging other fans by the same measure?” You get the impression this guy feels it’s time we abandoned the idea that footballers can be good role models. It can’t happen soon enough for me.

The site now includes footage from every World Cup final since 1930. It’s all on the left hand sidebar. Enjoy.

Are you off to South Africa in June? This travel index might prove useful if you or anyone you know is planning a trip to the World Cup.