Hodgson closes door on Terry’s chance of World Cup comeback
ENGLAND manager Roy Hodgson last night ruled out a sensational recall for defender John Terry ahead of this summer’s World Cup finals in Brazil.
Without Terry, England sealed World Cup qualification last year, but the frailties in Hodgson’s squad were laid bare in back-to-back home defeats in November to Chile and Germany.
But Hodgson insists he will not allow Terry the chance to add to his 78 caps despite England being short on experienced cover.
“As far as I’m concerned, retirement is retirement,” said the England manager.
The Chelsea centre-back was stripped of the England captaincy by then-Football Association chairman David Bernstein in 2012, after learning Terry would face court, charged with racially abusing QPR’s Anton Ferdinand.
Terry was acquitted, yet the FA subsequently opened their own disciplinary proceedings for the same offence and the 33-year-old announced his retirement from international football just days before being handed a four-match ban and £220,000 fine.
Bernstein retired from his post in July, but that will not pave the way for Terry’s return.
Hodgson added: “We move on. We moved on after the first qualification game when John Terry limped through [Euro 2012 qualifier against Moldova]. Since that time we have got on with it and have chosen the players who are available, who have represented us well in my opinion and so we’ll continue with that.”
England host Denmark at Wembley next month, before post-season friendlies against Peru, Ecuador and Honduras.