Terry came into the England squad as Ferdinand's replacement after the Manchester United defended was suspended for forgetting to take a drugs test. And he has made quite an impact.

The Chelsea centre-back was injured for England's opening game of the Euro 2004 finals against France but came back well to star against Switzerland, Croatia and Portugal.

He set up Frank Lampard's dramatic extra-time leveller against the hosts and also scored a penalty in the quarter-final shoot-out that eventually ended 6-5 in Portugal's favour.

His performances and his partnership with Sol Campbell have given Sve-Goran Eriksson plenty to think about, even when Ferdinand is available for selection again in September.

Terry said: "Rio will have been sat at home watching the Portugal game and he will have been devsatated for us. I am sure he wants to make his way back into the England team as soon as his ban has finished.

"He is a fantastic player and someone who I have always looked up to and all I can hope is that when Rio is back the manager has to think twice about putting him back in alongside Sol.

"There are a few of us over this year who have come in and done well so if the manager has to think twice then we have done our jobs - but my target is to hold on to this shirt.

"My immediate target is to go back to Chelsea, have another good season hopefully kick on again and make my international games. That is my target."

Terry, like the rest of the England squad, left Portugal with a feeling that the team had missed out on a real chance to win our first major trophy since 1966.

He said: "It was a very big missed opportunity because maybe it could have been our year this time with so many big sides like Spain, Germany and Italy going out, so we are very disappointed.

"Thankfully this squad is very young and we can be together for a lot of years to come.

"The lads said in the dressing room after the Portugal game that we have to forget about this as quickly as possible and get down to the business of winning a trophy like the World Cup next time.

"The lads are very positive, we have had a good tournament we are very close together and a great bunch of lads it's just a pity we didn't go further in the competition."