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Terry: Let's Cro for it, England

JOHN TERRY will deliver a ferocious kick up the backside to his England team-mates before tonight’s crunch in Croatia.

Skipper Terry vowed to let fly to prevent a repeat of Saturday’s dismal 0-0 draw with Macedonia.

He said: “I made a speech to the team in my first couple of games as captain but we stopped doing it for the last two matches.

“Now I feel I want to do it again before we play Croatia and that’s what I’m going to do.

"It will be a ‘stand up and be counted’ type of thing. We didn’t play well against Macedonia and now it’s time for everyone to step up their game and improve on Saturday’s display.

“We need to stick together and put in a right old good performance. I’ll be pumped up for it and so will the rest of the lads.”

Terry’s plans for tonight’s European Championship qualifier have the approval of boss Steve McClaren.

He said: “I’m pleased John Terry is showing that kind of leadership.

“It’s what he does best for Chelsea and it’s a good idea that he’ll be doing it before the Croatia game.”

Terry is preparing for a hostile reception from a Zagreb crowd who have never seen their nation lose a competitive match at home in 12 years.

He knows Croatia’s reputation for racism could also be a factor and said: “This is a great place for us to bounce right back.

“There are a lot of motivating factors involved. The hostile atmosphere we’re likely to face, Croatia’s great home record and our disappointing result at the weekend.

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Terry blasts Barca shame

November 02, 2006

JOHN TERRY has lambasted Barcelona’s whingers for trying to get his team-mates booked.

The Chelsea captain insists referee Stefano Farina was constantly goaded into giving cautions during the 2-2 draw at the Nou Camp on Tuesday.

Champions League clashes between the two clubs have been ill-tempered in the last three seasons and Terry believes Barca should know how to behave better.

He said: “They have world-class players and it’s disappointing to see them play like that.

“We fully respect them but waving cards in the referee’s face to get people booked is disappointing.

“He showed a yellow card so early on in the game.

“It’s a shame when you see world- class players trying to get players booked. Whether it was the first minute or the last they tried all game.

“We expected that but we are mature enough to walk away or stand our ground when we need to.

“They were making similar tackles to us and sometimes he didn’t even give a foul, let alone a yellow card.

“We showed maturity. We argued when we had to and showed calmness when it was appropriate.”

Farina dished out 10 yellow cards — six of which went to Chelsea men. Terry revealed the official tried to stamp his authority on the game from the off.

The Blues defender added: “Early on, when it got heated, the referee came to me and Carles Puyol and told us to calm it down a bit.

“We did but the next thing we know all the players are around him again and he doesn’t want to speak to me or Puyol.

“He can’t have it all his own way. If he wants to speak to us or calm people down, then he has to speak to us.

“The referee misses some things but that’s why he has two assistants. He wasn’t even going to speak to them.”

UEFA spokesman William Gaillard has called for FIFA to intervene to solve the problem of players accosting referees and admitted it has become a serious issue in the Champions League.

Gaillard said: “We are facing a situation where something will have to be done by the International FA board because every time there is a foul now you have 15 players protesting.

“It’s something we saw a lot of in the World Cup and it has just carried on into the Champions League. It makes life very difficult for referees.

“We are seeing too much of this in the Champions League.

“It’s becoming a bad habit, everyone has something to say. Maybe football could learn something from rugby, where the word of the referee is respected and not contested.”

Gaillard confirmed UEFA would await the referee’s report before deciding if they should review any incidents in the tie. But Chelsea will be fined around £16,000 for picking up six cautions as any team collecting more than five faces action.

Jose Mourinho’s men battled back twice to draw at the Nou Camp — Deco gave Barca a third-minute lead before Frank Lampard levelled.

Chelsea old boy Eidur Gudjohnsen put the hosts in front again only for Didier Drogba to score in injury time.

Terry said: “We showed great spirit when everything was going against us. We stayed relatively calm and it shows great togetherness from the players.

“We always think that whether it is the first minute or the last, we can kill them off and that’s what we have done.

“We didn’t go there to get bullied by the referee, their players or get intimidated by their fans.

“We outplayed them at times and we showed great character.” Lampard’s strike was one of the goals of the season as he lobbed keeper Victor Valdes from a tight angle.

And the midfielder admitted: “I ended up going for goal because I had such a poor first touch.

“There was no other option but to shoot. There was a defender there, the cross wasn’t on, I tried the clip and it seemed to take for ever to go in.”

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How's the back, John Terry?

December 18, 2006

CHELSEA skipper John Terry enjoys a bruising bumper car ride — two days before crying off a match with a BAD BACK.

He missed yesterday’s 3-2 win at Everton when an old injury flared after Friday’s Celebrity Christmas Fair in Wimbledon, South London.

Team-mate Ashley Cole, 25, was Terry’s co-driver. Other stars in cars included Cole’s singer wife Cheryl, 23, and Take That’s Jason Orange, 36.

An onlooker said: “John seemed to like the dodgems.”

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006580455,00.html