The third of our Untold World Cup Stories series, looking back at the behind the scenes stories from our journalists covering the 2010 tournament in South Africa
With the countdown on to this summer’s World Cup, we’ve launched a new series going behind the scenes of some of the big moments and untold stories of recent tournaments, from 2002 to 2022.
How Terry news conference exploded England camp
John Cross: It was a glorious sunny day at the Royal Bafokeng training ground in South Africa. No-one expected storm clouds to be gathering an hour later after one of the most memorable and remarkable press conferences in England’s World Cup history.
John Terry started his round of press duties in front of the TV cameras on Sunday, June 20, putting on the tried-and-trusted united front of a senior player backing the under-fire manager after a poor start to the 2010 World Cup.
By the end of the session, Terry had questioned Fabio Capello’s leadership, revealed he had gone to the Italian’s backroom staff to demand the players be allowed a beer and also called for Joe Cole to be put into the starting line-up.
It was as close to a player revolt that you could imagine. And probably as close as England have ever come to a complete meltdown during a tournament.
Terry ended up having to make a public apology, other players were left furious and Capello publicly condemned the former Chelsea player.
It was an amazing episode in England World Cup history. As someone who was there, there was absolutely no sense when Terry started talking that it was going to end so badly.
In fact, Terry started in front of the TV cameras by backing his manager to the hilt despite the fact England had begun their campaign with a 1-1 draw against the United States and then shared a dismal goalless draw with Algeria.
But Terry then went on to reveal there was a players’ meeting that evening with Capello and his staff – and he was ready to lead the call to challenge the manager’s tactics.
Terry also slammed England’s performance against Algeria when they were booed off but it felt pretty clear that he was also challenging Capello’s management and the mood in the camp.
Chelsea legend Terry said they needed Joe Cole’s creativity as he latched on to a question about his teammate – and went too far. Managers do not like players picking their team.
By the end, Terry was insisting that they should be able to relax with a beer which also went against Capello’s whole managerial outlook.
Parts of the TV interview are out there on the internet with Terry, looking a little flushed with the sun beating down outside and making the media tent rather humid, giving what felt like a run-of-the-mill interview.
England had been dull, laboured and short of ideas with Rooney turning on fans at the end of the Algeria game. He ranted into a TV camera after England were booed off.
There was dissent in the air – but it was Terry who misjudged the mood.
When asked about Cole, Terry said: “If he’s called on, Joe will do a great job… I personally think he and Wayne Rooney are the only two in the side who can really open up things.”
It was obvious that Terry had points to make – but scored a spectacular own goal.
This, do not forget, was the World Cup where the France squad revolted – and forced Raymond Domenech out of a job after a tournament of strikes, rows and recriminations.
Even though Terry had a message, I do not believe that he realised the gravity of what he was saying. He wanted to have his say – but misread the situation.
To be honest, a few of us did not realise just how big this story was until our phones started blowing up on the way back to our media accommodation which was a short coach ride away.
It was quickly evident that Terry was a lone voice. Other players – largely through their agents and contacts – were genuinely staggered at what had been said.
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The betrayal of a private meeting. Terry painting the picture of him speaking on behalf of the players. It really was not like that.
He was a great Chelsea captain. But Terry was a divisive figure for England at times even though he was unquestionably a world class defender.
Later, Terry even issued a public apology. “I went into yesterday’s press conference with the intention of being honest,” he said.
“I was asked a question about Joe Cole and maybe I went too far. But it was never my intention to upset the manager or the players and, if I did upset anyone, I apologise.
“I have told the manager he has my total support and I would like to stress that I don’t believe I have been a disruptive influence in the camp.
“I would now like to put this episode behind me and concentrate on trying to win what is a massive game for England. All I was trying to do was to say how important it is to me to try to win the World Cup.”
Clearly, Terry still thought his big mistake was about Cole (who was only a substitute in the next game against Slovenia) and it was not quite a full apology… more of an “if I upset anyone” cop out.
The reality was that England players WERE bored in that camp. They definitely underperformed and underachieved under Capello and the players were very divided on him. By the end, most were happy to see him go.
But the real lesson here was that you cannot have a revolt mid-tournament and also they do not like it when a player speaks on behalf of everyone – especially if they did not agree.
It all played out badly. England qualified for the knock-out, got thrashed by Germany 4-1 in the next round and went home.
Capello, meanwhile, was sitting pretty with a new contract signed on the eve of the 2010 World Cup. Stories linking him with a return to club management appeared before the tournament, the FA panicked and regretted it.
And it was another chapter in Terry’s colourful and controversial career because, just four months earlier, he had been stripped of the captaincy after revelations about an affair with former teammate Wayne Bridge’s ex-girlfriend.
Incredibly, 18 months later, Capello – who had reinstated Terry as captain in March 2011 – quit because he was angry that the FA wanted to remove the armband from Terry pending the outcome of a court case over allegations he racially abusing QPR’s Anton Ferdinand.
Terry was later cleared in court but banned and fined by the FA.
