Euro 2012 - Paper Round: Fears grow over Terry

John Terry’s chances of playing against France are in the balance, according to the back pages.

Terry

The Daily Mirror warns that the central defender is a serious doubt after only managing one light training session in the past two days after a hamstring problem surface during the friendly against Belgium.

With England meeting France on Monday in their Group D opener, time is running out for the defender to prove his fitness.

Terry has become a key component of the England squad, especially in the light of a spate of injuries that have robbed Roy Hodgson of central defenders and experienced players.

Terry’s defensive partner at Chelsea Gary Cahill has already been ruled out of the tournament this week with a broken jaw, while the squad has also been shorn of veterans Frank Lampard and Gareth Barry in recent weeks.

There will be pressure on Hodgson to play Terry regardless, but in another twist, the Daily Star claim that if Terry does line up against France, he could well rule himself out of the rest of the tournament.

The paper cites top physio Stuart Mills who says that despite Terry getting the all-clear, any recurrence of the issue against France could end his summer.

And the Terry Euro 2012 experience has reportedly begun with a 'robust chat' about his conduct with Roy Hodgson, according to The Times.

Hodgson is desperate that the campaign is not undermined by a split in the camp as Fabio Capello endured with England in South Africa at the last World Cup.

Terry upset certain members of the camp during that tournament with an outspoken press conference, but is said to have understood Hodgson's request that he toe the line.

Terry’s fitness and behaviour doesn’t stop the Rio Ferdinand saga rumbling on, however, with Sol Campbell’s Guardian column creating a major talking point.

Former England player Campbell adds his name to the list of people who question whether Ferdinand’s exclusion from the Euro 2012 squad was purely down to ‘football reasons’.

“If,” Campbell writes, “it is ever proven true that John Terry was chosen over Rio because of race then I would tell the FA that they can take back my 73 caps and scrub my name out of the record books.”

If you want some cheerier news about England ahead of the tournament, look no further than Wayne Rooney’s quotes, splashed liberally across the back pages.

“I don’t see why can’t win it,” Rooney says.” We’ve certainly got the players and the quality.”

Sounds familiar to what you’ve heard at every other major championships?

Away from England, there looks to be good news for Roberto Di Matteo, with the Daily Mail claiming that the Chelseajob is almost his.

In an exclusive, the paper reports that overtures to Pep Guardiola have failed, and with Di Matteo already boasting two major trophies, including the coveted Champions League, he’s finally the favourite to keep the job.

And despite having no manager, Chelsea’s transfer business shows no sign of stopping.

The Mirror claims that the latest addition to the team will be Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini, who has emerged as a £20m target for the Blues to reinforce the midfield.

Whether he will boast bigger hair than potential team-mate David Luiz remains to be seen, but he would add to the growing contingent of Belgium internationals after the arrival of Eden Hazard.

The Daily Mail say that QPR have entered the race for Montpellier striker Olivier Giroud, although with Arsenal also keen on the France international they may find it tough getting their man.

Arsenal are also keeping tabs on Seydou Doumbia of CSKA Moscow and Malaga’s Salomon Rondon as they look to add a striker to their squad.