A game of other halves proves an own goal for England

Since his former girlfriend's reported fling with team mate John Terry hit the headlines, the Manchester City defender has kept a dignified silence and yesterday, as he drew a line under speculation about his

part in the forthcoming World Cup, his parting shot was equally reserved.

Admitting he had thought long and hard about the decision, Bridge admitted his inclusion in the squad was both "untenable and potentially divisive". On behalf of the other players he announced that he would not be putting himself forward for selection and wished the rest of the team the very best of luck.

Former players were quick to add their own two-penn'orth. Some claimed the announcement had been unduly rushed, while others wondered why a truce hadn't been brokered to allow Bridge and Terry to bury the hatchet for the duration of the finals.

They may well have had a point, but with the tales not just about Terry, but also Ashley Cole, refusing to go away the so-called beautiful game has never looked more tarnished.

Amid explicit photos sent on mobile phones and illicit meetings in hotel rooms, Bridge's decision to step down and put the team ahead of his own World Cup dreams was a refreshing change.

Certainly Fabio Capello must be wondering how it all went so wrong. After taking over from the hapless Steve McClaren, Capello quickly ushered in a new era of strict discipline.

A stickler for punctuality, the Italian wouldn't tolerate late arrivals to team meetings or training. Official FA suits and ties, he said, had to be worn to and from games, mobile phones were banned in the dining room and the players seemed to warm to the new regime.

Yet while his squad were publicly toeing the party line and telling everyone who would listen how fantastic it was to have strong leadership, for some that new-found self-control didn't extend to their private lives.

Like naughty schoolchildren when the teacher's back was turned, those convinced they were untouchable were soon up to their old tricks.

Even now as Cole's marriage unravels in the glaze of publicity, sorry still seems to be the hardest word. He has reportedly begged for forgiveness, but with the inevitable sources close to the player claiming he strayed because he was lonely and felt smothered by the almost constant presence of the Girls Aloud singer's mum at their 6m home, the saga still hasn't run

its course.

With a little over three months to the World Cup in South Africa – from which Capello has already sensibly limited the players contact with the Wags – some are predicting that by the time the first game kicks off, Cole could already be a single man.

Julian Hawkhead, a partner at Stowe Family Law, said it should be "relatively painless" if the couple decided to make their split permanent.

"A case where it's young people and no children and both with lots of money, it should be an easy divorce," he said.

"The couple may have already started negotiating a settlement behind the scenes and could divorce within three or four months if they are both keen to move on quickly.

"I think Ashley probably earns a bit more than Cheryl so she might want a share of his earnings but she has good earnings in her own right.

"I think she'll just want to get on with her life.

"The impression is they are both keen to get on with it. They are both commercially minded people with strong commercial people in the background advising them.

"A lot of it's about image. It doesn't help either of them to have their dirty linen aired in public.

"It helps them both to get this sorted quickly."

Perhaps, but it will no doubt only be a matter of time before another footballer strays from Capello's rulebook and when they do, the story will be as difficult to cover up as the "Mrs C" tattoo on the back of Cheryl's neck.