London, Feb.23 (ANI): Former England strikers Alan Shearer and Ted Sheringham have predicted that should England lose in the World Cup finals in South Africa later this year, it will not be because of the John Terry scandal, but more due to bad luck and bad play.

"It's (Terry episode) obviously damaging at the moment. There's a lot of publicity on the wrong side of what you want to be thinking about going into the World Cup. By the time the tournament comes around it will all blow over and we'll be concentrating on football," Sheringham said.

On whether coach Fabio Capello was right to strip Terry of the England captaincy, Shearer said: "He is fortunate enough he's got other captains to choose from and I don't think it will affect JT."It's hard to say until Capello tells us his reasons for doing so. But he's made his decision and I don't think it will harm the team," added Sheringham.

They also both said that it was upto Terry and Wayne Bridge to work out their differences over the Veronica Perroncel affair.

"They're both professionals so you would like to think they wouldn't take that out on to the pitch when they play again. You'd like to think they don't take anything out on the pitch," they said.hey also said Spain or Brazil could end up winning the World Cup.

Sheringham said: "Probably Brazil and Spain. Brazil because they know how to win the World Cup. Spain because they've been on a fantastic run for a few years as a team together."

Shearer said England lacked in passing ability compared to Spain and Brazil, but could make up for it in other areas - with Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand, with Terry, with Ashley Cole.

Sheringham held out hope for England's chances of winning, but said the side needed to be at the top of its game and have the rub of the green. (ANI)