John Terry's future in the England team is under severe threat, according to former Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro.
Ex-skipper Terry incurred the wrath of manager Fabio Capello during England's dismal World Cup campaign when he suggested the players were ready to confront the Italian over his tactics and team selection.
The Chelsea centre-back was forced to back down after Capello called his comments a 'big mistake', but kept his place in the side before England were bundled out of the tournament in the second round after a 4-1 humbling by Germany.
Cannavaro, who lifted the World Cup with Italy in 2006 before suffering a humiliating group stage exit in South Africa, knows Capello well after working under his compatriot at Real Madrid.
And the experienced defender believes the strict disciplinarian will begin preparing for the 2012 European Championships by making sweeping changes to the Three Lions squad, with Terry the most at risk.
"My thoughts are that John Terry won't be on the team sheet," Cannavaro told the Daily Star Sunday.
"You don't cross Fabio and he won't want anybody disrupting his tournament again.
"It was absolutely the correct decision for the English FA to keep Fabio on. He can make this England team his own now - and I would actually make them the favourites for Euro 2012.
"When he joined Real Madrid he brought a lot of players in the first season like myself and Ruud van Nistelrooy and the result was instant success but internationally it takes time to build your own team.
"I don't want to speak for Fabio but I'd be surprised if more than five of the players who started against Germany start the opening game of Euro 2012.
"For me, the only two players that can be guaranteed to start in 2012 are Ashley Cole and Wayne Rooney.
"By then Fabio will have had enough time to build his own team and I think it will be unrecognisable compared to what it was at the World Cup.
"Spain will be there but if Fabio gets rid of egos, I think England will see exactly why it was a good decision to keep him on."
Ex-skipper Terry incurred the wrath of manager Fabio Capello during England's dismal World Cup campaign when he suggested the players were ready to confront the Italian over his tactics and team selection.
The Chelsea centre-back was forced to back down after Capello called his comments a 'big mistake', but kept his place in the side before England were bundled out of the tournament in the second round after a 4-1 humbling by Germany.
Cannavaro, who lifted the World Cup with Italy in 2006 before suffering a humiliating group stage exit in South Africa, knows Capello well after working under his compatriot at Real Madrid.
And the experienced defender believes the strict disciplinarian will begin preparing for the 2012 European Championships by making sweeping changes to the Three Lions squad, with Terry the most at risk.
"My thoughts are that John Terry won't be on the team sheet," Cannavaro told the Daily Star Sunday.
"You don't cross Fabio and he won't want anybody disrupting his tournament again.
"It was absolutely the correct decision for the English FA to keep Fabio on. He can make this England team his own now - and I would actually make them the favourites for Euro 2012.
"When he joined Real Madrid he brought a lot of players in the first season like myself and Ruud van Nistelrooy and the result was instant success but internationally it takes time to build your own team.
"I don't want to speak for Fabio but I'd be surprised if more than five of the players who started against Germany start the opening game of Euro 2012.
"For me, the only two players that can be guaranteed to start in 2012 are Ashley Cole and Wayne Rooney.
"By then Fabio will have had enough time to build his own team and I think it will be unrecognisable compared to what it was at the World Cup.
"Spain will be there but if Fabio gets rid of egos, I think England will see exactly why it was a good decision to keep him on."
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