Helter-beatHounddogგაიხარეთ, დავმშვიდდი ცოტა. ღრმად ჩავისუნთქავ და გავაგრელებ მაშინ
THE nightmare scenario has arrived sooner than John Terry, Wayne Bridge or Fabio Capello could ever have imagined.
The news that Ashley Cole will be out for at least three months, after breaking a bone in his left ankle, has put England's World Cup build-up back into a tailspin.
Terry's affair with Bridge's ex-girlfriend Vanessa Perroncel, the mother of Bridge's son Jaydon, has caused enough trouble as it is.
The fall-out from that unhappy episode continues with Terry flying out to Dubai to try to save his marriage and missing the FA Cup fifth round clash against Cardiff.
Yet suddenly we have the very real possibility that former skipper Terry and his one-time pal Bridge will be lining up side by side in the starting XI when England kick off their bid for World Cup glory against the United States in Rustenburg on Saturday, June 12.
Two weeks ago, when the affair was first revealed, SunSport asked if the two of them would even pass the ball to one another.
It was assumed then that those circumstances would only arise should Bridge have to come on as a substitute.
Now it has become absolutely critical that we know the answer to that question.
Yes, they are supposed to be professional footballers and personal feelings should not affect their ability to play in the same team.
But the wounds are still horribly raw as far as Bridge is concerned. He has made one brief statement on the subject and vowed never to talk about it again.
While he will not go public on his feelings about Terry, the ex-mate who was one of his closest confidantes, there have been strong suggestions that Bridge has been considering quitting international football.
We can reveal, though, that Bridge has been told that if he does not turn up for Capello's next England squad, he will put his World Cup chances in serious jeopardy.
Capello considers the Terry situation to be resolved, having sacked the Chelsea centre-back as skipper, and that there is no excuse for Bridge not joining up with the squad for the friendly against Egypt at Wembley on March 3.
The message has been communicated to the full-back, who will have to decide if he can stomach being in Terry's presence in the team hotel, out on the training pitch, in the dressing room and on the field of play.
It is highly likely Bridge will be alongside Terry for the meeting with the Egyptians, should he choose to turn up, and for a good few games after that.
England are expected to play friendlies against Mexico at Wembley in May and then another against Japan at the end of their Austrian training camp before flying out to South Africa.
Bridge could now be an integral part of the whole World Cup campaign and Capello needs to know his head is right for the job.
An England insider said: "The ball is in Bridge's court.
"It is up to him whether he wants to be part of the World Cup plans or not.
"If he does not want to be in the next squad, it will put a serious question over his England future. Because Terry is always going to be there if he is fit."
Alternatives for Capello are thin on the ground.
Aston Villa's Stephen Warnock won one cap under the Italian against Trinidad and Tobago 20 months ago.
But he is currently suffering a reaction to a leg fracture that was operated on in 1999.
Warnock had metal pins put in the leg and swelling and soreness have developed around the area. It is a problem which may recur.
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Arsenal's impressive young defender Kieran Gibbs, 20, might have nicked a place in the squad had he been fit.
But he broke a metatarsal back in November in the Champions League victory over Standard Liege, which has ruled him out for the rest of the season.
It is all a massive headache for Capello.
He must be wondering if his World Cup bid is going to be cursed the same way Sven Goran Eriksson's attempts to win Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006 were affected by injury to star striker Wayne Rooney.
The signs are not good. We can only hope Capello has had all the bad news already
ვერ ჩანს მთლად ნათელი პერსპექტივა....
This post has been edited by LA_NY on 12 Feb 2010, 08:39
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ინგლისური ფეხბურთის ფანკლუბი, Three Lions On The Shirt - Part IX
