Filed under: Euro 2012, Football, England Football
Rio Ferdinand's international future under Fabio Capello looks increasingly uncertain after the Manchester United defender was omitted from squad to face Montenegro on October 7.Capello's side will travel to Podgorica needing only to avoid defeat to be sure of topping Group G and securing qualification for the Euro 2012 finals in Poland and Ukraine next summer.
The coach, though, has decided this is a mission that can be accomplished without the services of the experienced centre back who was Capello's captain before the reinstatement of John Terry to the post earlier this year and appeared as a second-half substitute in his club's weekend victory over Norwich.
Ferdinand has struggled with injury for longer than he would care to remember now and a combination of back and hamstring problems mean he is now at a point where he has to nurse himself through the remaining years of his career.
He is currently fit, however, having started against Stoke and Basel and his absence from this squad cannot be explained by injury. Capello, it seems, has decided England can move forward without the player.
Instead, the coach will choose from Gary Cahill, Phil Jones and Phil Jagielka when he comes to select Terry's central defensive partner. Cahill's performances in the last two qualifiers against Bulgaria and Wales make him favourite to start but his recent form for a struggling Bolton side may count against him.
It is a significant gamble, however, to overlook a player of Ferdinand's quality and experience. The coach has spoken of the need for his players to handle the intense atmosphere they are likely to experience on Friday and on that count, there is nobody who would be better suited to playing in such a match than Ferdinand.
However Ferdinand played alongside Jones against Basel and while neither player came out of that game with too much credit, the older man's attendant risk of breaking down means Capello has clearly decided England can live without him, at least for now.
This will not be the end of Ferdinand's England career, at least not unless the player decides to make it so, as the player has too much quality to be overlooked completely.
This will undoubtedly come as a blow to him however, although Ferdinand and United will be the major beneficiaries with player given valuable rest time.
Fulham forward Bobby Zamora has been rewarded for his return to form and fitness with a recall to the squad although Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe has been overlooked.
And Capello has resisted any temptation to restore Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard to the squad following the midfielder's phased return to first-team action following a long-standing groin injury.
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Goalkeepers:
Joe Hart (Manchester City), Scott Carson (West Brom), David Stockdale (Fulham, on loan at Ipswich)
Defenders:
Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Bolton), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Micah Richards (Manchester City), John Terry (Chelsea), Kyle Walker (Tottenham).
Midfielders:
Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Manchester City), Scott Parker (Tottenham, Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Ashley Young (Manchester United).
Forwards:
Darren Bent (Aston Villa), Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United), Bobby Zamora (Fulham).
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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/10/02/rio-ferdinand-left-out-of-fabio-capellos-england-squad-to-face/
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