Rio Ferdinand admits defeat in England selection battle
Rio Ferdinand admits defeat in England selection battle
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Saturday, 09, Jun 2012 09:32
By Rich Ward
Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has admitted he is likely to have played his last game for England after he was overlooked by Roy Hodgson for Euro 2012.
Having being left out of the initial group selected to travel to Poland and Ukraine, Ferdinand might have expected a reprieve when Chelsea's Gary Cahill suffered a broken jaw in the final warm up match.
However, Hodgson instead decided to call on Liverpool's inexperienced defender Martin Kelly, leaving Ferdinand to ponder his future.
"If I’m not getting picked now, especially when people are out injured, then it’s unlikely I will be picked again," he told the Sun.
However, the 33-year-old vowed that he would remain available should England require his services for future tournaments.
“I always said I wouldn’t retire from international football until I stopped playing and I won’t. I will still be available," he said.
Ferdinand added that he is surprised the 2006 World Cup was his last tournament and expressed his disappointment at not having reached 100 caps for his country.
England, minus Ferdinand, begin their campaign against France on Monday.