Rio joins Di Canio in writing off England

Rio Ferdinand has joined another former Hammer Paolo Di Canio in writing off England as a World Cup force.

And he believes Roy Hodgson got it 100 per cent wrong in not taking yet another Boleyn old boy to the tournament – Michael Carrick.

Rio has never been backward in coming forward and is reported as saying: “As a former England captain and big England fan there is nothing I would love more than to see Roy Hodgson’s team reach a quarter-final showdown with World Cup hosts Brazil.”

“But if I was a betting man I would not risk money on England getting out of Group D, let alone making it within sight of the semi-finals.”

He added: “I’m not damning their chances completely but let’s have a bit of realism and accept that there are three teams in the section who have a shot at progressing, and three into two doesn’t go.”

And of  Carrick’s exclusion he told the Mail on Sunday: ““He’s been under-appreciated in an England shirt and never had the respect he deserves. He’s the best holding midfielder England have. He knows the role.”