Rio Ferdinand out of the World Cup!

[radin119]

Lamps for captain

[unique football]

ledley king ftw

[HuSsAiN]

Lamps for captain

No, its Gerrard

[Ali]

No, its Gerrard

[HuSsAiN]

He better play good. I think he will because this captaincy will lift him and think ' i have to step it up ' .

[HuSsAiN]

The England camp in South Africa will be a pretty dour place to be for the next 48 hours or so. Rio Ferdinand is the heartbeat of that dressing room and losing him is a massive blow to the team's spirit.

I remember John Barnes getting injured in the lead-up to Euro '92 in Sweden. When you see the incident happen, it is deflating and a shock to the squad. It makes you realise it can happen to any one of you.

One innocuous challenge and, bang, you're out of a tournament you've spent months training for.
Start as you mean to go on: Rio Ferdinand's injury blow is a sign of things to come for England, who should at least reach the last eight

It is a massive loss from a footballing point of view. Rio is vastly experienced - it would have been his fourth World Cup - and that is vital because tournament football is a completely different beast.

Fabio Capello will miss his experience and know-how, especially as he has been maturing on and off the pitch into a big leader.

He has a presence in world football that is as big as Fabio Cannavaro for Italy or Gerard Pique for Spain.

There's an intimidation about him, an aura, and sometimes that is just enough in itself. When you're standing in the tunnel next to a big guy like that with a big reputation, it is intimidating.

Whoever replaces him in defence is not going to be as well known across world football and so it won't give Capello the same comfort.

There are other players in the squad who are just as quick as him or tackle just as well as he does... but it is about more than that.

In theory, Ledley King can come in and do equally as well if we look at recent form but he hasn't played international football for three years and it showed against Mexico.

Capello now has a choice on who to bring in and you would imagine King is favourite considering his form for Tottenham at the end of the season.

But he has not played with John Terry in the pre-World Cup friendlies or in training and Matthew Upson has the advantage of having played in the qualifiers and having done well. So that could be a safer option.

But King is the better all-round defender - more robust and mobile - which is why I would start him against the USA. Capello picked King despite his knee troubles, saying he was fit enough to play him. Now we'll see the strength of his convictions.

Some people have suggested Steven Gerrard is too timid to be a leader but I think he will step up to the plate.

Steven thrives on responsibility and I expect him to rise to the challenge he now faces. He has been inspirational for Liverpool and can be for England.

[Kaveh Ahangar]

This is actually good news for England. Their chances will greatly improve without the unreliable and error-prone Ferdinand cluttering up their back four.

[HuSsAiN]

This is actually good news for England. Their chances will greatly improve without the unreliable and error-prone Ferdinand cluttering up their back four.

No it is not good news.

The 'unreliable and error-prone' Ferdinand does not happen when he plays in big games. He and Cafu were the voted the best defenders in 2002, and in 2006, he was very good, with England only conceded twice in 5 games, and that was in one match vs Sweden, (Rio came off as a subsititute).. So in reality, when Rio was fit and was playing, he only conceded one goal in WC 2006.

Rio Ferdinand - A brilliant defender, with a great footballing brain. Reads the game so well, at times, sloppy due to lack of concentration, but thats gone past him, now he's developed as a leader, and has that leadership quality. Rio and JT also have struck a great partnership.

He will defintely be missed, but he is not irreplaceable.

[Kaveh Ahangar]

He was one of the best centrebacks in WC 2002, but he has declined considerably. He is too arrogant, complacent and he hardly has any pace left.

We should look at his performances objectively, without the fanaticism of club loyalties when considering what is best for the national team. He hasn't made many appearances this season, and didn't seem to be fully match fit or anywhere near the top of his game.

Which is why I think England are much better off without him.

[HuSsAiN]

He was one of the best centrebacks in WC 2002, but he has declined considerably. He is too arrogant, complacent and he hardly has any pace left.

We should look at his performances objectively, without the fanaticism of club loyalties when considering what is best for the national team. He hasn't many appearances this season, and didn't seem to be fully match fit or anywhere near the top of his game.

Which is why I think England are much better off without him.

I don't think he has declined after 2002. If thats what your saying, then you think he was a better player when he was at Leeds, than at Manchester? Hmm... He still has that yard of pace within him, but he reads the game so well, and his pace doesn't have to be used all the time

You are right, in the sense that he hasn't played much this season, but it could have been a blessing in disguise going to the WC.

Anyhow, we will see how JT does with his new partner.

[Haf3z]

He was one of the best centrebacks in WC 2002, but he has declined considerably. He is too arrogant, complacent and he hardly has any pace left.

We should look at his performances objectively, without the fanaticism of club loyalties when considering what is best for the national team. He hasn't made many appearances this season, and didn't seem to be fully match fit or anywhere near the top of his game.

Which is why I think England are much better off without him.

I haven't seen him play that much the past season, but wasn't he the fastest defender in the world at one point? Also, he and Nemanja Vidic were named the best central defenders (working together) in the world about a year ago. Have they declined that much in one season?

[HuSsAiN]

He was one of the best centrebacks in WC 2002, but he has declined considerably. He is too arrogant, complacent and he hardly has any pace left.

We should look at his performances objectively, without the fanaticism of club loyalties when considering what is best for the national team. He hasn't made many appearances this season, and didn't seem to be fully match fit or anywhere near the top of his game.

Which is why I think England are much better off without him.

I haven't seen him play that much the past season, but wasn't he the fastest defender in the world at one point? Also, he and Nemanja Vidic were named the best central defenders (working together) in the world about a year ago. Have they declined that much in one season?

Yeah, he is very quick, but may have that yard of pace due to his excessive injuries espeically to calf and back.

Well, Rio and Vidic haven't played much last year. They both have had injury problems, but when the limited games they played together, they looked a real force.

Just hope both come back fresher next year.