England coach Fabio Capello hopes John Terry's leadership qualities
will help the team win the World Cup despite his decision to drop
the defender as captain over his alleged affair with the former
partner of Wayne Bridge.
Bridge, the Manchester City left back, has told Capello that
his position in the World Cup team alongside Terry is untenable.
Bridge refused to shake Terry's hand in the pre-match ritual
Saturday when City beat Chelsea 4-2.
While Capello hopes to persuade Bridge to reverse his
international retirement - especially with first-choice left back
Ashley Cole injured.
"I asked for the captain to set an example for the young
people - for the children and the fans," Capello said, spelling out
his reasons for firing Terry for the first time. "What he did was
not good. I told him this and he understood, but I took the
decision only because of what happened with Wayne Bridge, nothing
else. I didn't ever consider taking John Terry out of the squad,
and I don't believe the other players will have lost respect for
him.
"To me, being a leader is more important than being the
captain. John Terry is a leader. I have asked him to be the same.
He will be the same. He will still be a leader without wearing the
armband."
And that will never happen again under Capello.
"Until the World Cup, John Terry will not be the captain
again," said Capello, who is signed until the 2012 European
Championship. "After the World Cup? If I remain as England manager?
I think not."
Capello has told the 29-year-old Bridge not to let the
turmoil in his private life prevent him from appearing at a second
World Cup.
"Bridge has a different vision of life that he thinks it's
better for him to stay out of the team - this is the opinion of the
player, I think he can stay in the squad without problems," Capello
said.
