World Cup qual - Managers: Capello hails Terry

Eurosport - Thu, 02 Apr 12:43:00 2009

Manager reactions from every World Cup qualifying game involving British and Irish sides, with Fabio Capello praising captain John Terry.

FOOTBALL England Slovakia Capello - 0

Capello singled out Terry for inspiring the 2-1 victory over Ukraine which maintained his team's perfect World Cup qualifying record.

Terry's header set up the opening goal for Peter Crouch and the central defender slammed in an 85th-minute winner after substitute Andriy Shevchenko had equalised for the visitors.

"I am very happy for John Terry, this was a very tough game," Capello said, adding that he was also impressed with the way Terry has dealt with tabloid newspaper stories this week about his family.

"It is one of the reasons why he is captain, he is a very important player and a very strong character."

Capello said he had been extremely concerned during the match.

"That was the most anxious I have been as England manager and we suffered a little in the second half," he said. "But we played like a group, like a team and you cannot be in a better position than we are with five victories and 15 points."

Ukraine coach Oleksiy Mykhaylychenko said he was disappointed with the result and admitted his team were in a fight with Croatia for second place.

"Of course, England have a great chance to go through but its too early to say anything definite because only half the games have been played," he said.

"Despite all our efforts tonight we couldn't get a result. In my opinion England did not play all that well but we made too many mistakes ourselves."

Meanwhile Terry revealed that his celebration after the winner Ukraine came after getting a haircut from Wayne Rooney.

With players under strict orders not to leave their base, The Grove in Watford, Rooney had to give his captain a trim - and the pair recreated the moment when Terry tapped in from close range at Wembley.

"In the week I needed a little trim but we weren't allowed to leave the hotel," Terry said. "I asked Wazza and he obliged. He did alright as well. I'm pleased with it and might go back. He was asking for a tenner but I owe it to him."

Terry's goal came four days after he had a goal chalked off for offside against Slovakia when he could not resist a touch, even though Crouch's strike was going in.

"It was good to get on the scoresheet," Terry said. "It was a bit similar to the other day when I was offside, so I was delighted to set up Peter for his goal after sneaking his one in."

Terry was pleased with England's reaction, adding: "At 1-0 it was too easy for us. At 1-1 we showed the desire and fight and kicked on. We could have settled for a draw but got a push from the fans and a kick up the backside from ourselves."

TeamTalk / Reuters

Comment 1 - 17 of 17

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  1. is anyone surprised terry kept his head, class act !!!­ always has been

    From simon, on Fri 3 Apr 11:41AM
  2. Post 11, Andy: yeah, F1 drivers are clearly not­ overpaid... Who makes "highest paid athlete"­ year in and year out? I guess you know the­ answer.

    Well played England, I vouch for France,­ we'll see you in 2010

    From ThomasP, on Thu 2 Apr 2:39PM
  3. Comment no 11, yes footballers are overpayed not like­ your F1 drivers, what are they on? about 50 grand a­ year i believe........or is it more like £7 million a­ year!!
    and as for a good laugh then F1 is much better­ than football!

    From chris, on Thu 2 Apr 1:18PM
  4. Yep Kenneth everything you say is true,"An Lang­ May Yer Lum Reek"
    Pity aboot yer­ fitba!!

    From Donald, on Thu 2 Apr 12:58PM
  5. and does nobody want to mention the outstanding­ perforance of wayne rooney,apart from that tackle he­ was by far the man of the match and had my vote all­ night long he was superb

    From A, on Thu 2 Apr 12:51PM
  6. Kenneth....take more water with it....!

    From PAUL D, on Thu 2 Apr 12:39PM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    England are @#$%... always will be. Players are way­ over paid.

    Come over and watch a real sport like F1­ lol

    From andymiller68, on Thu 2 Apr 12:37PM
  8. what do you all think englands prospects are? last 16?­ quarter finals? i think last 16 if they're lucky,­ if they make the quarters you should knight them all,­ you probably will anyway, Renton in Scotland were first­ to win the world cup, look it up in any good book about­ the world cup, first again, we dug for coal when coal­ couldn't be dug for, we fought the fights they said­ couldn't be fought, we kissed all the wimmen they­ said weren't willin', here's tae us,­ wha's like us, for we are the Scots.

    From inverkenny, on Thu 2 Apr 12:33PM
  9. how much longer can the team carry Cole? He was poor­ defensively and did nothing going forward. And those­ passes yet again.....they will cost us against better­ opposition. There must be a better left back.

    From roger, on Thu 2 Apr 12:26PM
  10. Well played J.T - leading from the front!!!

    From ctbee3, on Thu 2 Apr 12:21PM
  11. Cole was poor. Apart from that a good all round­ performance.

    From wilswilson, on Thu 2 Apr 12:15PM
  12. Once again Cole made 2 defensive errors trying to do­ something beyond his capability - Wenger would have had­ him off!

    From M H, on Thu 2 Apr 12:14PM
  13. ash cole what a heap

    From derek w, on Thu 2 Apr 12:06PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Ukraine-best!!!

    From Alexey, on Thu 2 Apr 11:47AM
  15. come one blues

    From amansherpa, on Thu 2 Apr 11:17AM
  16. terry is our hero

    From azim_strokes87, on Thu 2 Apr 4:17AM
  17. love it

    From Zuba, on Thu 2 Apr 12:58AM
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