Rio Ferdinand has accepted his England career is almost certainly over, ending his dream of winning 100 international caps.
Ferdinand, 33, has been controversially overlooked for Euro 2012 by new manager Roy Hodgson - a move that drew criticism in the first instance and even more so when the inexperienced Martin Kelly was chosen to replace Gary Cahill when he withdraw through injury.
The Manchester United defender is now ready to regretfully close the book on his England days, albeit without formally retiring, and told The Sun: "You would have to say it might be over with England for me. If I'm not getting picked now, especially when people are out injured, then it's unlikely I will be picked again."
He added: "I always said I wouldn't retire from international football until I stopped playing and I won't. I will still be available."
Ferdinand would probably have a century of caps in the bank already were it not for a series of injury problems and an eight-month ban for missing a drugs test in 2003.
Yet he remains disappointed.
"I really hoped that I would get 100 caps - but for various reasons it hasn't happened," he said. "It's a disappointment but it just shows you can never take anything for granted in football.
"If you aren't disappointed by being left at home when your country is playing in tournaments like this then there's a problem and you shouldn't be in professional football.
"I'm in this game to achieve as much as I can. I'm paid to win and be a sore loser. I want to play in the big games and win big trophies. If that's a crime then I'm a criminal."
Comment 1 - 10 of 10
Sck and tired now of hearing about this now.put the whole thing to bed and give Rio his dummy back.
Ferdinand don,t care about anyone else ,his club mates that are in the England team his other friends in the England squad why because he;s letting this circus continue to go on an not coming out an saying anything about it with the injuries in the England team an this i think he likes it all attention and you wonder why his England career is over.
Get on with it and stop moaning, You should not have missed the drugs test, you know the rules but opted, for reasons only known to yourself to ignore the rule because like many of the overpaid footballers you think you are beyond the law. Get over it and hope you have learned your lesson. Consider your self lucky you wont be on the losing side.
i think this footballer needs some therapy.
Who in their right mind would build a team for the future with a 33 year old defender with an ego such as his. In his hay days he might have had a case for his inclusion, but at 33 with his diva image, I don't think so.
Racist choice? Are the English going to participate or to compete? A win or draw against the French might spring surprises! Let's hope so!
that will teach the stupid idiot to go to his PR people and make things one hundred times worse. The guy needs a lobotomy. If he had kept quiet he might have got a to 100 caps but they will never pick him again now.
SAF effectively ended Ferdinand's International career by saying he cant play 2 games in 4 days. Ferdinand was a great player............but those days are gone.
Ferdinand is the best defender in the world
SAF will feed him raw meat to make him ready for the start of the season..... Rio has a point to prove. All the better for United.
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