England’s failure to get previous the quarter-finals of a significant event throughout the 2000s stays one among latest historical past’s largest head-scratchers.
Sven-Goran Eriksson was capable of name upon a number of world-class stars throughout his tenure as England boss, however within the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, plus the European Championship in 2004, his facet hit a last-eight-shaped brick wall every time.
Chelsea skipper John Terry was a part of this so-called ‘Golden Era’, breaking into the Three Lions facet in 2003 and turning into an everyday beneath Eriksson earlier than being named captain after David Beckham relinquished the armband after the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
John Terry displays on England’s ‘Golden Era’
One of the crucial frequent takes on why England’s group of elite gamers may by no means gel was that membership tribalism bought in the best way, with the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea all embroiled in bitter Premier League rivalries.
“I personally didn’t really feel that there have been cliques,” Terry tells FourFourTwo. “I can’t converse for others. Gamers did have a tendency to sit down with their club-mates at dinner occasions, however that’s pure – these are your closest mates. We used to play pc video games and stuff with the Man United boys.
“Sure, there was an enormous rivalry between golf equipment, however I’m unsure that bought in the best way. I believe the principle motive for our lack of success was that different groups had been excellent on the time, probably stronger than now.
“However there’s little doubt we didn’t fulfil our potential as a gaggle. We had world-class gamers.”
Terry was handed the captain’s armband by Steve McClaren in August 2006 and would initially retain it beneath Fabio Capello earlier than being stripped of England’s captaincy following allegations concerning his personal life in 2010.
That was after the centre-back had led his nation out 34 occasions and Terry stays pleased with what he was capable of obtain.
“It was a dream to guide England out at Wembley for the primary time – it nonetheless offers me goosebumps. The armband on, the workforce behind you, the nationwide anthem at a packed stadium… I used to be very proud.
“Steve had been across the England setup for a very long time, so he’d seen I had these management qualities and noticed how I dealt with myself in that position at Chelsea. I beloved being England captain.”
