Mature TERRY ready to face challenge of his life

England's ambition at the World Cup is a mosaic of individual aspirations. This is a youngish squad yet its members have mostly been around long enough to experience the struggle of a career.

John Terry, captain of dominant Chelsea though he may be now, recalls how far he was from being equipped for the 2002 version of this tournament when he was 21. "It didn't even enter my head that I should be in the squad," he said. "I wasn't ready. When you look at Rio [Ferdinand] and Sol Campbell, they were different class. I wasn't near them. I feel ready now and it's time for me to prove myself."

Terry is right to suppose that he is still to demonstrate his worth fully. During Euro 2004, his sole tournament with England, they conceded four goals in the three matches he played. Though he was not particularly to blame, all their attacking prowess will be in vain this summer unless the defence functions much better.
He feels added experience and greater understanding will make a crucial difference this time. "You want to be the best," he said. "I'm improving and I'm trying to get there. When I train with Chelsea and England I don't just come away and get on the bus. I'm thinking about the work I've done and what I need to improve on."

There has been a certain amount on which to reflect lately. The cameras caught his amusement and bemusement when the 19-year-old Aaron Lennon beat him comprehensively in a practice session. At 25, Terry already has to wonder at youngsters such as the Spurs winger and, to an extent, Theo Walcott.

"It's frightening when you have players like that," he said. "They know no different. Give them the ball and they get at people. If they do come on they will do a lot of damage." Terry has to plan to keep England out of harm's way when they meet Paraguay at the start of Group B on Saturday.

The defender has spoken with his Chelsea team-mate Hernán Crespo, who has played for Argentina against Aníbal Ruiz's side. Owen Hargreaves has also been consulted for information on his fellow Bayern Munich player Roque Santa Cruz. Paraguay's other forward Haedo Valdez, now moving to Borussia Dortmund, is known to the England midfielder as well.

There is an element of studiousness to Terry that might not have been anticipated in so visceral a defender. "It's down to ourselves, apart from what Steve McClaren and the boss do, to find out information for ourselves," he said. In the qualifiers Paraguay beat Argentina so they should offer a serious measure by which to judge England.

Ruiz's team may take the pace out of the game and even resort to minor fouls. This has been billed as a World Cup of strict officiating and Peter Mikkelsen, the former referee and now a Fifa adviser, did state on his visit to the England camp that shirtpulling, for instance, might lead to a booking.

Terry has to avoid a caution and hope Paraguay are chastened by yellow cards. When Wayne Bridge caught him on the ankle in training on Tuesday, though, the defender's first thought was "I could be on the way home". No matter how difficult Paraguay turn out to be, Terry's sense of gratitude at being part of this World Cup should stay undiminished.

Source: Kevin McCarra, The Guardian