World Cup qual - Terry: England still improving

Eurosport - Sun, 07 Jun 14:28:00 2009

England captain John Terry believes the best is yet to come from his team under coach Fabio Capello following the 4-0 win over Kazakhstan in Saturday's World Cup qualifier.

2009 England John Terry - 0

England, who failed to qualify for Euro 2008, recorded a sixth consecutive qualifying victory in Group Six and are now seven points clear of Croatia with four matches to play, starting at home to Andorra on Wednesday.

While Saturday's performance was far from fluent, particularly in a torrid opening half hour, Terry said England were beginning to gel.

"I can assure you have not seen anything yet, there is far more to come from this team," Terry said after the victory in the Central Stadium.

"We are really relishing these games. There is a confidence about the side, a confidence that we are looking to maintain."

Importantly, Terry believes the English public are finally back on board after a strained relationship with their national team during the ill-fated reign of Steve McClaren.

"There were times when people were on our back a little bit and we took a lot of criticism, but we have ridden that out now and the fans are showing the appreciation of the football we are playing," Terry said.

There is certainly a business-like look to England these days. Gone is the light-hearted training ground atmosphere often witnessed under McClaren and his predecessor Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Capello, judging by his angry demeanour for much of the first half, is a far harder taskmaster and England's millionaire players seem to like his style.

"The boss has stressed the importance of maintaining the high standard that we have set," Terry said. "We are working extremely hard, but we are not there yet.

"We're in a good position, but taking nothing for granted. We've got Andorra at home, and they can sit back and make it difficult. If we can get the seventh win out of seven, it will be fantastic."

Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard, who set up the first two goals in Almaty, said there is no danger of England getting complacent with qualification not yet sealed.

"What we are all conscious about is qualifying for the World Cup. Missing out on the European championship was a massive blow," he told the FA's website. "It took the players a long time to get over it.

"What we need to do is pay the fans back and qualify for the World Cup."

Reuters

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  1. between 1985 till 1994 i followed england all over the­ planet as a true england supporter ,i dont get chance­ to see them that much now due to commitments,but in my­ opinion the 1990 squad was the closest we,l come to­ winning the big one,but it was ANOTHER freak of­ unluckiness that prevenred us from getting to the­ final.the team today is admitedly full of talented­ players but cant improve to a top level of performance­ consistently. why this is i dont no,personally i think­ its an attitude problem and a lack of the dunkirk­ spirit,they come from teams who are not used to getting­ beat in the premiership,to a national side that if they­ go 1-0 down you can see the smacked arse look on there­ face as if to say HOW CAN THAT HAPPEN.reason being boys­ is even the lower countrys are improving hand over fist­ THEY HAVE 90 MINS COMMITMENT AND PASSION AND ARNT PAYED­ 50 BILLION A MATCH THEY WANT TO WIN FOR THERE COUNTRY­ NOT SO THEY CAN PLAY CARDS AT HALF TIME FOR 50 GRAND A­ THROW.

    From deesydave, on Tue 9 Jun 8:06AM

  2. terry is the real guy behind it with his ledership

    From Kenneth, on Mon 8 Jun 8:29PM

  3. I am sure England look forward to sending Germany­­ home­­ with their tales between their legs from South­­ Africa­­ :-)))

    From taylor.steven49, on Mon 8 Jun 7:51AM

  4. Improving yes. We won 6 games. Did we do that on the­ last qualification rounds. No so there is improvement u­ pooh!

    From nemo_delfino, on Mon 8 Jun 5:06AM

  5. How can England improve playing against teams like­ kazhakstan and andorra i think qualification has to be­ made harder none of this seeded and unseede nonsense­ Champions league should take this format too instead of­ teams from the same country can't play each other­ till the quarter finals

    From garethtait1, on Sun 7 Jun 9:30PM

  6. Dear ciaran.daly65, if you are a true fan, you should­ support England without becoming arrogant. In the past,­ one of the reasons England was knocked out is because­ they under-estimated the opposition. There are many­ good teams that will be there in South Africa, all­ hungry for success. In the end, the most determined and­ lucky will win. England do have a chance, but it will­ be a tough competition and anything can­ happen.

    Let's back England without criticizing­ unfairly (4-0 is a great score any day) or getting­ big-headed.

    From Anthony B, on Sun 7 Jun 3:25PM

  7. Remember England are only doing well because an Italian­ is in charge.

    From Mark S, on Sun 7 Jun 3:17PM

  8. the way england are playing with super-star players­ like wright-phillips the world cup is coming home

    From Ciaran, on Sun 7 Jun 2:43PM

  9. good to see torres wants away from liverpool pack of­ losers

    From Ciaran, on Sun 7 Jun 2:24PM

  10. Was a great result for England.Why do people criticize­ their performance in every game even if they have 100%­ record in this campaign,wish Scotland had that kind of­ record!!!! D.

    From David, on Sun 7 Jun 2:19PM

  11. England are in a no win situation. if we lose we're­ slated, if we win, the opponent is too easy.
    What do­ people want?
    World cup qualifying is what it is.­ you're drawn against 5 other teams, and you try to­ win the games.
    England have successfully does this so­ far. in my book there is no room for criticism.

    From PAUL H, on Sun 7 Jun 2:18PM

  12. Was agreat result for England.Why do people critisize­ their performance in every game even if they have 100%­ record in this campaign,wish Scotland had that kind of­ record!!!! D.

    From David, on Sun 7 Jun 2:06PM

  13. oh i know your not a geordie boy donney, you obviously­ missed the point!

    From jimbob333, on Sun 7 Jun 2:05PM

  14. FANKS FAE THA CAMPLMONT OSCINTAN BYE BAT OM NAY A­ JARDAY BYE. ALTHO A DAY LAV THA JARDAY BYES. THEY CRECK­ ME OPP TE @#$%.

    From Donney, on Sun 7 Jun 1:57PM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    This is it Mr Terry, you lot shall always be work in­ progress......an extremely slow, slow, slow process

    From sappercommando25, on Sun 7 Jun 1:43PM

  16. gn ffhghd

    From Raghav, on Sun 7 Jun 1:42PM

  17. donney- so i guess frank ribery wouldn't be in your­ world 11 then

    From ai, on Sun 7 Jun 1:37PM

  18. Donney you are soooooo funny! you must be the only­ person to have intertwined your language into a text­ format! what a genius you really are! seriously i'm­ having to hold on to my splitting sides! you geordies!­ crazy characters!!!!

    From jimbob333, on Sun 7 Jun 1:32PM

  19. I Think england are doing very well but no-offence to­ them they have played pretty naff teams but 100% is not­ bad considering were talking bout england

    From louissharpe, on Sun 7 Jun 1:32PM

  20. Donney - you watch the football for the pretty boys­ then?

    From Ashley B, on Sun 7 Jun 1:30PM
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