JOHN TERRY picked up 78 caps for England over nine years. 

But as he announced his international retirement last night, there were few tears. 

Certainly not from the many fans who have grown to dislike a player who, nevertheless, remains this country's best defender by a distance. 

Some people still love Terry. Many people hate him. 

Yet you cannot ignore the fact that on the evening Terry called time on playing for England, he was still a crucial member of Roy Hodgson's first-team. 

The Chelsea centre-back, 31, chose to turn his back on the national side just hours before he was due to begin an FA hearing into the saga with Anton Ferdinand. 

This could be seen as slightly childish - but clearly his anger with the FA runs deep. 

It is a shame, though, that Terry's international career has ended in this way. At Euro 2012, he was outstanding for his country. 

It was easy to ridicule England in Poland and Ukraine but defensively, Hodgson's side were as good as any other. 

In Moldova a couple of weeks ago, Terry was superb and carried a below-par Joleon Lescott. 

That was until Terry picked up an ankle injury. 

With England cruising towards victory, Hodgson wanted him to leave the pitch with 20 minutes to go, even though it would have left the team down to 10 men. Yet being the *la*hdy-minded, stubborn character he is, Terry refused.

Instead, he hobbled along until a couple of minutes from time when he could continue no longer. That will be remembered as his final England performance. 

After the match in Moldova, Roy Hodgson called him "a gladiator" although this latest FA charge is clearly a battle Terry feels he will not win. 

It is still ridiculous that such a courageous, talented player, with at least one major tournament left in him, has decided to quit. 

Terry's career has been a soap opera and, at times, an unsavoury one. From upsetting American tourists after 9/11, a court case following an altercation with a nightclub bouncer to being incredibly friendly with his best mate's ex-missus. 

Yet his spat with Ferdinand took this situation to a new level. 

As you would expect after the club's Champions League win in May, Terry will remain a God in the eyes of most Chelsea fans.

But equally, in Munich, Terry laughably attempted to change history by appearing in celebrations in his full Chelsea kit despite missing the game through suspension.

Source: The Sun