Southgate or Terry - which one for you?

By James Dart

INTERNATIONAL PERFORMANCE

Given that Terry is yet to be handed his first full England cap, this round has to go to the reliable Middlesbrough defender.

Southgate may not have enjoyed the greatest of international fears, especially after his heartbreaking penalty miss in Euro '96.

However, only Gary Neville and David Beckham have more international games under their belts in Sven-Goran Eriksson's set-up, with Southgate now up to 45 caps.

The 'Boro man has become a regular under Eriksson and looks a pretty solid shout to make the final squad to travel out to the Far East.

Terry, meanwhile, can only point to his performances with the England Under-21 side, although he has been impressive when on international duty for David Platt's team.

He has looked a solid player on the field, but it's his off-field actions that are likely to count against him.

One of the ill-advised Chelsea players to head out on a drinking binge at Heathrow in the wake of the September 11 atrocities, Terry is now accused of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm during an alleged fracas at a club.

He also faces a separate count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, along with affray.

So whilst his maturity on the pitch has attracted many fans, England coach Eriksson will not be so happy with Terry's behaviour in his own time.

Southgate 7/10, Terry 5/10.

FORM THIS SEASON

Ask pretty much any Middlesbrough fan who their player of the season has been, and it's likely they'll answer with Southgate.

He has been the real success at the Riverside since Steve McClaren's arrival at the club, and has been the key to his side's mid-table position.

Helped by playing alongside former Aston Villa team-mate Ugo Ehiogu, Southgate has gone from strength to strength in the past seven months or so.

Indeed, it's fair to say that he is now displaying the form of his career. Sven can't help but to have been impressed.

Down at Stamford Bridge, aside from his off-field behaviour, Terry has continued his development as a top-class defender, continuing his education under Claudio Ranieri.

He has not let goings-on off the field deflect his game, and his performances have forced him into contention for the finals.

However, he has been unlucky with injuries and the latest - a fractured toe - will have kept him on the sidelines for around six weeks.

And with Chelsea closing in on a Champions League spot with excellent form at the moment, even when Terry is match fit, it won't be easy for him to get back into the starting line-up.

Southgate 8/10, Terry 6/10.

PACE

Whilst his form has been unquestionable this season, Southgate is starting to rely on his defensive experience rather than blistering speed for success.

He has never been the slowest of players, but now in his 32nd year, it's not unfair to say that he is entering the latter stages of his career.

But if it came down to a foot race with Terry, the Chelsea man would edge it, a race that many Premiership strikers have lost against the young Blues defender this season.

Southgate 6/10, Terry 7/10.

STRENGTH

First impressions of Southgate have never really marked him out as a powerhouse in defence, but he is not a player that gets bustled off the ball easily.

Terry, however, has a slightly bigger build and provides excellent stability - and strength - when it comes to the crunch.

There isn't a great deal to separate the two players and given the allegations hanging over Terry, it would be inappropriate of me to say he would win a fight between the two.

But I would just side with the Chelsea man for the category, as Southgate has always relied on his touch to give himself more time at the back.

Southgate 6/10, Terry 7/10.

SKILL

Having started out his career in front of the defence, Southgate is a comfortable victor in this section.

His poise when in possession marked him out as a future England man during the early stages of his career, and it is well-suited to the international game.

And whilst skill isn't absent from the game of Terry, he can't be rated as highly as the 'Boro man when on the ball.

The only worry with Southgate could be a propensity for overplaying, but this is a problem that he looks to have eradicated in the latter stages of his career.

Southgate 7/10, Terry 6/10.

GOAL THREAT

It's pretty fair to say that neither player will find much money bet on them to be the first goalscorer in a game.

Southgate has just one international goal to his credit, whilst having found the net just once to-date in the Premiership this season.

And Terry is no hotshot either without a goal to his name in the 2001/02 season.

Both have the ability to be threats from set pieces, but it would be unfair to give either individual superiority in this category.

Southgate 5/10, Terry 5/10.

TOTALS: Southgate 39, Terry 36.

Sportinglife.com verdict:

The Middlesbrough man has a great case for selection this summer and it would really surprise me - injury prevailing - if he wasn't selected by Sven.

Maybe not a first-choice selection for a full-strength England, but his fine form for the Riverside club makes him an excellent shout for a squad place, at least.

For Terry, these finals are possibly just too early, and he should hopefully have a better chance of figuring in future squads, especially for the European Championships in 2004 and the 2006 World Cup.

Obviously, the criminal charges hanging over him prevent selection for an international side, so he may not have the chance to go to the Far East anyway.

But, even if he was available, Southgate would still be above him in the pecking order.