JOHN Terry took his sacking as England captain on the chin - there were no Gazza-style tantrums as Fabio Capello delivered the bad news to the Chelsea defender.
The 29-year-old emerged from his meeting with Capello and the England manager's assistant Franco Baldini stony-faced but with little outward display of emotion, according to witnesses.
Terry arrived at Wembley Stadium at 2pm today and was not kept waiting for long before he was ushered into a room containing just Capello and Baldini, who had been analysing the situation regarding the fall-out from Terry's alleged affair with Wayne Bridge's ex-partner.
Capello asked Terry for his comments about the situation, and the player stated briefly that he understood he had put the Italian in a difficult situation and would accept whatever he thought was best for the team.
The England manager explained that he had decided it would be better for the squad to replace him as captain and remove him from the limelight in the build-up to the World Cup.
Capello did make clear to Terry however that he will continue to select him in the England squad - calming Terry's worst fear that he would be dropped altogether due to potential difficulties with being in the same squad as Bridge.
After being given the bad news, Terry thanked Capello and Baldini, and stated his intention to do everything possible to help the squad.
With that the meeting was over - some reports say it lasted as little as 12 minutes, although other sources insist it lasted longer than that.
"It wasn't in and out like a dental appointment - it seemed to last quite a bit of time," said one source. "It was all very restrained - there were no raised voices."
Afterwards, Terry came out of the meeting room and spoke to Football Association officials, including FA chief executive Ian Watmore, who thanked him for his contribution as captain over the last three-and-a-half years.
Anyone expecting Terry to have made a Gazza-style scene - Paul Gascoigne famously kicked a chair and smashed a lamp after being informed by Glenn Hoddle he was not going to the 1998 World Cup - were disappointed.
Terry left Wembley Stadium shortly before 3pm without making any public comment and the news was officially confirmed by the Football Association at 4.15pm.
Terry arrived at Wembley Stadium at 2pm today and was not kept waiting for long before he was ushered into a room containing just Capello and Baldini, who had been analysing the situation regarding the fall-out from Terry's alleged affair with Wayne Bridge's ex-partner.
Capello asked Terry for his comments about the situation, and the player stated briefly that he understood he had put the Italian in a difficult situation and would accept whatever he thought was best for the team.
The England manager explained that he had decided it would be better for the squad to replace him as captain and remove him from the limelight in the build-up to the World Cup.
Capello did make clear to Terry however that he will continue to select him in the England squad - calming Terry's worst fear that he would be dropped altogether due to potential difficulties with being in the same squad as Bridge.
After being given the bad news, Terry thanked Capello and Baldini, and stated his intention to do everything possible to help the squad.
With that the meeting was over - some reports say it lasted as little as 12 minutes, although other sources insist it lasted longer than that.
"It wasn't in and out like a dental appointment - it seemed to last quite a bit of time," said one source. "It was all very restrained - there were no raised voices."
Afterwards, Terry came out of the meeting room and spoke to Football Association officials, including FA chief executive Ian Watmore, who thanked him for his contribution as captain over the last three-and-a-half years.
Anyone expecting Terry to have made a Gazza-style scene - Paul Gascoigne famously kicked a chair and smashed a lamp after being informed by Glenn Hoddle he was not going to the 1998 World Cup - were disappointed.
Terry left Wembley Stadium shortly before 3pm without making any public comment and the news was officially confirmed by the Football Association at 4.15pm.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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