England were on the defensive again on Monday, protecting John Terry from the inevitable questions about racism with all the defiance and determination that Fabio Capello's players displayed against Spain.

There was extra security at the team hotel and an extra vigilant FA media officer at the beleaguered England captain's side.
It made for an uncomfortable afternoon, Terry trying to talk football while the elephant remained in the room.

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Any attempt to switch to the subject of Anton Ferdinand and an incident that is the subject of a Metropolitan Police inquiry was instantly intercepted, 'we're just not going there' being the stock response.

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