John Terry says the failure of any English clubs to make the Champions League semi-finals has given the national squad vital extra time to prepare for June's World Cup.

"We can take a very strong positive out of the fact that no English clubs have made it through this season," Terry told the Sun. "It's disappointing there won't be an English club in the final because it's the biggest game you can play in for your club.

"But England meet up in Austria on 17 May and the Champions League final is five days later. Had one of our teams got to the final the squad would have had some very notable absentees for what is a big phase of our preparation.

"Now we will all get together and can get some good solid grounding in as a whole. I'm sure from that perspective Mr Capello is happy."

The Champions League final is on 22 May. The World Cup kicks off in South Africa on 11 June.