John Terry: Why Chelsea Captain Shouldn't Make England's Euro 2012 Squad

The Euro 2012 England squad will be better off without center back John Terry.

The team will look to buck the trend of lackluster performances in international competitions. Terry, the long-time skipper of the team, is shrouded in controversy and will only be a distraction as England strives for success.

He is being charged with using racist language against Queens Park Rangers' Anton Ferdinand. The defender will face a trial in July soon after the European Championship ends. 

This is not the only moment of indiscretion from Terry this season, and these outbursts should be enough to keep the Chelsea defender out of Poland and Ukraine this summer.

Terry has been one of the world's top defenders over the past few years, but he's also been extremely temperamental throughout his career. At 31 years old, his game is starting to slip a little, and he may no longer have the skills to justify his inappropriate behavior.

Chelsea ranked sixth among English Premiership teams this year after finishing either first or second in every season since 2002-03. Terry became a regular at center back in the 2001-02 season.

The Blues captain did miss time due to injury this season, but he also started 30 of the team's 38 league matches, so he is very much responsible for the defense's substandard year.

There is no doubt that Terry has had an illustrious career and that he is still a very good defender, but he just isn't the same player he used to be.

With Terry's play slipping, Roy Hodgson and the English national team coaches now have to weigh his unpredictable personality against his waning talent.

Terry reminded the national team bosses about his penchant for violent outbursts in the Champions League semifinal against Barcelona when he drove his knee into Alexis Sanchez's back.

Most players who act out like this mature as they get older, but Terry has shown no intentions of stopping such foolish behavior. He has four red cards in the last five years, three of which were straight reds.

In fact, Terry has only gotten more reckless with age as he had never been sent off before the 2005-06 season.

For English coaches, Terry's inclusion in the squad used to be a no-brainer. But given his age, recent injury struggles, legal troubles and the always-present risk of an ejection, this decision is not as easy as it once was.

With so many concerns surrounding the defender, other options at center back must be considered.

If Terry is left out, Rio Ferdinand will almost certainly be included to preserve some continuity in the squad. Ferdinand's presence further complicates the situation with Terry, as Anton Ferdinand is Rio's brother. 

If the coaches are forced to choose between Ferdinand and Terry, they will likely go with Ferdinand, who has less baggage at the moment.

The other center back spot is up for grabs, and there are several Englishmen who have made good cases for themselves by having wonderful seasons with top clubs.

The first player to jump out is Manchester City's Joleon Lescott. Lescott, 29, partnered with Vincent Kompany to lead City's defense, which allowed the fewest goals in the EPL.

He has the experience necessary to be a starting back on a stage as big as Euro 2012 and has been in brilliant form over the past season-and-a-half.

Another option for Hodgson is Terry's teammate Gary Cahill. Cahill was bought from Bolton midseason and has proven to be capable of fitting in with a top-level team.

At 26, Cahill is younger than both Lescott and Terry. A successful Euro campaign this summer could be Cahill's start to a long, successful career with the Three Lions in major competitions.

Manchester United youngster Phil Jones would also be a good inclusion to the squad, although he is not experienced enough for a starting role at center back. His versatility will make him valuable, and the more experience this rising star can get at an early age, the better it will be for England.

These players are all solid options at center back, so Terry is not desperately needed on the squad.

With his upcoming trial, recent knee surgery and his violent outburst against Bracelona, Terry might not be wanted either.

There are just too many reasons to leave Terry in England for Euro 2012 and too many options to replace him. 

The much-maligned defender has simply not done enough this season to justify his presence on the national team.