Macedonia v England
UEFA European Championship Qualifier
8pm, Wednesday 6 September 2006
Gradski, Skopje
Live on Sky Sports 1

5 September 2006
John Terry press conference

Watch John Terry's press conference as England prepare to meet Macedonia in Skopje.
2 September 2006
England 5-0 Andorra

The Three Lions cruise to a 5-0 win over Andorra, with Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch leading the way.

John Terry admits he is so obsessed with winning that he feels a burning pain when he cannot get his hands on a trophy - and that applies to England, too.

The Three Lions captain leads his side out in Macedonia today determined to reach the Euro 2008 finals and to end so many years of frustration for his country.

The style under Steve McClaren is not to boast about England’s chances of winning silverware for the first time since 1966, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a steely determination to do so.

The new-look England side face their first real test in Skopje with a 100 per cent focus on securing three points. And Terry, handed the captain’s armband by McClaren, could hardly be more committed to the cause as he bids to recreate the winning atmosphere he has created at Chelsea.

The Blues have won back-to-back titles under Terry’s guidance and he wants to have the same effect on England.

"I certainly hope it’s going to be the same pattern of winning things," said the England skipper, whose quiet and honest delivery cannot hide his intense love of the job.

"That’s all I want to do. I want to win and play games for England and win trophies.

"I went so many years not winning anything with Chelsea and that hunger just burned inside me. I would look at other teams at the end of the season with trophies and I just felt this burning pain inside me that I didn’t want to feel. I just wanted to give it my all to pick up trophies.

"I want to do that with England. It’s the ultimate stage and it’s time we did it now. It is pointless me coming in and saying we’re going to win this and that, but it’s important we get out there and just keep winning games."

The Three Lions made a positive start to their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign, beating Andorra 5-0 at the weekend. And there is a huge determination to make it to Austria & Switzerland in style.

"It is two years away and we’re building up to that and looking forward to it," insisted Terry. "At the minute we’re winning games and things are on a high."

Terry’s impact on the squad since he was handed the captain’s armband has been immense.

The defender said: "Steve stressed quite early on that he wanted a club atmosphere around the place and we've had that.

"In many of my previous England experience, once training had finished I'd just go back to my room but that's not the case now. It's quite changed. Everybody is spending a lot more time with each other and getting to know one another, not only on the pitch but off it as well. That can only help us."

Terry has asked his manager to allow players to wear tracksuits rather than suits when they travel because it is more comfortable. And he has also called for players to be allowed to have minibars stocked with soft drinks in their hotel room, something which was banned under previous bosses.

Both requests have been granted and the captain has also made a big splash by inviting colourful Chelsea masseur Billy McCulloch to join the party.

"The lads love him," he said.

"He’s a genius with his hands. There’s time when you are going to be tense or feel stressed about a game and he just completely relaxes you. He comes to your room and massages you and basically sends you to sleep. If you need him at two or three in the morning he’ll do that, he wants to win.

"But it’s not just that - he has us in fits of laughter every day as well.

"The other night we went to a comedy club and the comedians there were quite overwhelmed by what was going on. He got them off stage and did a 25-minute slot of doing his jokes and the lads were in stitches.

"Steve will tell his team meetings fully serious but if you are having meetings every day it can get a bit tiring. But up comes Bill after the meeting and tells a joke and it’s all light-hearted. Things are very much relaxed around the place and he’s been fantastic."

With Billy McCulloch telling his jokes, Terry inspiring his troops and the likes of Steven Gerrard and Peter Crouch firing on all cylinders on the pitch it’s little wonder England are on the up.

It should be a quite a blast on the journey home if the Three Lions can win in Skopje today and make it six points out of six so far.

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