Chelsea captain John Terry says England can compete with the top teams

12 August 2009 06:46
JOHN TERRY insists England don’t have a mental block about facing the top teams in the world and they’ll prove it against Holland in Amsterdam tonight. Under Fabio Capello, the only teams England have lost to are France and Spain, leading to suggestions they still can’t hack it against the big boys. But Terry, who points out that England did beat Germany under Capello’s guidance, is certain the Three Lions will prove their critics wrong against a side who have already qualified for the World Cup Finals. The Chelsea defender said: ‘I don't think it's a mental issue. There's no worry against the top sides for me. We've played some good sides and beaten them already and I think we learned more from losing to Spain than we would have done going there and winning. ‘Holland is another test and I know they are very good technically and pose a big threat going forward. Defensively, too, they're solid. So it'll be a good test, but we feel ready. ‘We've learned under the manager that there will be times in games when the opposition have the ball and hit you with counters or dominate possession. So it's about staying compact and making sure you're ready to hit them back. ‘That's an Italian thing. Carlo Ancelotti is the same at Chelsea: he says don't be frightened when you lose the ball, keep your shape, stay together - and then, when you get the ball back, take it to them. That’s what we aim to do.’ There’s a real confidence in Terry’s voice whenever he talks about his country these days and it’s a far cry from the Euro 2008 campaign when, with the Blues star as captain, England failed to qualify. ‘That was a massive disappointment for the country and a lot of that weight was on my shoulders, and I take responsibility for that,’ he said. ‘But we've been playing some good stuff of late and it's important we keep going with that. We need a good result and performance tonight against Holland.’ Terry was relieved to hang on to his job as England captain when Steve McClaren was sacked and Capello tried several other options before handing him the armband. And he intends to make the most of it. He added: ‘I never doubted myself, but I understood that some people might doubt me as an England captain with us not qualifying. ‘I've learned a few things from before, about how not to do things, but now everyone's playing freely and confidently under the new manager and we are aiming for the World Cup. This is an important test along the way.’ Will England beat Holland tonight’ We want to hear your predictions...

Source: London_Paper