Scholes' example is the way forward for hurting Terry

Now he will be burning again, but this time the footage will be of Manchester United parading the trophy - and of Chelsea's captain missing what could have been the winning penalty. JT will feel like he never wants to play football again.

Feeling the pain: Terry can hardly bear to look

When you are a top player, losing doesn't come easy. I sat in the Southampton dressing room after we had been relegated. I was the captain - and playing for my dad - and our defeat on the last day of the season meant there would be cutbacks and that people would lose their jobs.

It was also the last time I played football because I had to pack in because of my knee. I remember thinking "I'll never get over this".

That's how John will be feeling for a while. He will want to lock the door and throw away the key, replaying the penalty he missed over and over in his head.

There is little time for him to try to forget. There's an England training session on Saturday followed by preparation for games against U.S.A. next Wednesday and then Trinidad & Tobago on Sunday, June 1. The prospect of seeing Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney will not comfort him. There may be some lively tackles.

John should perhaps consider how Paul Scholes felt when he missed the European Cup Final in 1999. If you work hard enough at your game and you play for one of Europe's superpowers, there is a good chance the opportunity will come around again.

He will look at his kids and his wife, he will watch Euro 2008, take a break and then watch his club spend good money in the summer and then, once again, the prospect of football will excite and inspire him.

People will be sympathetic - most of them will be, anyway. He was a penalty away from winning the trophy but he should not forget that it is his job to keep the ball out, not to score the winning goals.

Didier Drogba wasn't there and Nicolas Anelka missed the kick that gave the glory to Manchester United, not JT.