Int Football - England hungry for Spain challenge

Eurosport - Tue, 10 Feb 12:53:00 2009

England will be able to judge how much they have improved under coach Fabio Capello after the friendly against European champions Spain in Seville, defender Rio Ferdinand said.

FOOTBALL England Ferdinand - 0

England's resurgence under the Italian has been reflected by four wins out of four in their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign and a 2-1 friendly victory in Germany in November.

"Every game we find out where we are but playing against probably one of the best two teams in the world at the moment, we have to make sure we put in a good performance and acquit ourselves in the right way," Ferdinand said.

"It will give us a good yardstick as to how far we have come since the new manager has come in."

Ferdinand said Capello, appointed in 2007, had filled the squad with a "confidence we are going in the right direction.

"He has a winning mentality and his record speaks for itself. The lads are seeing each time the squad meets up why he has been such a winner in club football," said the central defender.

England's last friendly in Spain in 2004 was marred by racist chanting when several black players in the visiting team were subjected to monkey noises from the crowd during a 1-0 defeat at the Bernabeu in Madrid.

Ferdinand said it was time to move forward.

"A lot was said after the event and we do not want to dwell on it," he said. "As players we are there to play football whatever the sideshow is.

"It's not something we discuss over lunch or in training. We are there to put in a good performance and try and win the game, simple as that."

Ferdinand's former Manchester United team mate David Beckham has been recalled by England and looks set to equal Bobby Moore's record of 108 caps for an outfield player.

Beckham has shone in a loan spell with Milan and Ferdinand said playing in Serie A with such a good team had rejuvenated the former England captain, who has said he wants to join the club permanently from Los Angeles Galaxy.

"Speaking to him in training today he seems to be bouncing again. He's talking about who he is training with (at Milan) and he's delighted to be playing football again in Europe," said Ferdinand.

If Beckham passes 1966 World Cup-winning captain Moore's record it would not diminish the late defender's achievements, Ferdinand said.

"Bobby Moore was an icon of English football, Becks going past his record will not diminish anything he's done," said the Manchester United player.

"He lifted the World Cup, the only man to do that for England."

Reuters

Comment 32 - 51 of 51

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  1. SPAIN V VILLA

    From sam.andrews91, on Tue 10 Feb 4:06PM

  2. poland will beat wales, toshack is a terrible manager,­ chris, Powys

    From Christopher, on Tue 10 Feb 1:12PM

  3. #48 - i think this apparent lack of understanding of­ the term "racism" is partly why the problem­ still exists. education is paramount. Racism is not­ particularly concerned with whether someone is black,­ white, yellow, purple, etc. it is a pre-conceived­ notion about someone based on their race (whatever that­ may be). I believe prejudice is actually more accurate­ as I have no idea what black race means, or white race,­ or any "race" that is not based on a­ bloodline e.g. a white guy in America is probably­ culturally very different to a white guy in Sweden and­ probably haven't shared the same blood for­ thousands of years, if ever. the point is that one­ shouldn't hold stereotypes, full stop. not, one­ shouldn't be racist against black people and as­ long as you don't you're not racist at all.

    From hugh, on Tue 10 Feb 12:23PM

  4. Wales should beat Poland, as this is the only game of­ football worth watching this week

    From p.lloyd142, on Tue 10 Feb 11:17AM

  5. Lets hope Englands players don't have to put up­ with the disgusting racial abuse they had to tolerate­ last time they visited Spain. Not that Uefa will act of­ course, if its not English fans causing trouble then it­ don't really matter to Uefa.

    On the footballing­ side, I think it will be a close game, with Spain­ possibly having a little to much for us. I hope Im­ wrong though!!
    COME ON ENGLAND!

    From Michael S, on Tue 10 Feb 10:44AM

  6. racism in football is a disgrace and shouldn't be­ tolerated.
    rio ferdinand isn't black though.

    From fergie, on Tue 10 Feb 10:15AM

  7. I think this match will be very exciting.

    From Lennyfast, on Tue 10 Feb 10:04AM

  8. beckham will shine again...........
    u will see

    From zubarleo, on Tue 10 Feb 8:57AM

  9. All this bitterness and slating of the England team­ (quite often by English 'fans') used to really­ wind me up. But I can't help but be amused by the­ blind nationless fools these days. Lets wait till­ Wednesday night till we can say who is clearly better­ than who shall we.

    From davidman, on Tue 10 Feb 8:55AM

  10. Jeeeez - there's alot of upset jocks on this­ forum... didn't realise they had the internet in­ their mud huts.

    From Ashley B, on Tue 10 Feb 7:04AM

  11. the guy banging on about indivdual skills is missing­ the point
    this is a team game has ever heard of it­ football

    From H, on Tue 10 Feb 5:07AM

  12. glory2 david beckham....

    From adaberto, on Tue 10 Feb 4:19AM

  13. hehe. i love brits.

    From POTATO, on Tue 10 Feb 4:12AM

  14. lanre a you are a confused idiot. you contradicted­ yourself in that comment. arguing with yourself from­ the sounds of things. farkoff and do it elsewhere.

    From mike s, on Tue 10 Feb 3:23AM

  15. Hey, I'm an open minded girl from US, I'm­ interested in exotic things, photography, dating and­ sports...I have my photos on --- Tallhub Co m ---, I­ love tall guys!
    Do you love traveling and have some­ experience? Just find me out.

    From reijimile06, on Tue 10 Feb 1:33AM

  16. I have to say imn really excited about this game.­ England are in a rich vein of form at the moment as are­ Spain i think it could come down to which manager is­ more tactically aware and capello has conquered la liga­ before, i think spain may just edge it however because­ of home advantage saying that England have performed­ better away from home in recent times it really is­ anyones game theres no question that the england lads­ will be up for it!!

    From kingmark21345, on Tue 10 Feb 1:22AM

  17. @andy w
    "o tom ward......
    ok casillas better than­ james
    rio­ ferdinand better than marchena
    john terry­ better than­ sergio ramos
    ahley cole better than­ pique
    matthew upson­ as good as abeloa

    frank lampard­ better than­ iniesta
    gareth barry better than­ senna
    ashley young­ better than silva
    david @#$%­ beckham better than­ alonso

    agbonlahor not as good as­ david silva
    heskey­ not as good as torres ( who is @#$%­ at the mo)

    that­ makes it 8-3 in solo quality.
    i think­ england will go­ and win, even though they only have­ half a squad and­ spain will be fielding there top­ side.

    england have­ so much potential and they are­ starting to realise­ it!

    sky's the limit for the­ england team.

    2-0­ england
    From andy w, o"

    THIS­ IS TYPICAL ENGLISH BULL&#!T, TALK SO MUCH AND PLAY­ LITTLE...U ALWAYS HAVE THE BEST TEAM B4 ANY­ TOURNAMENT....EVEN THO IM A FAN OF THE PREMIER LEAGUE,­ I FOLLOW OTHER LEAGUES TOO AND I CAN TELL U DONT REALLY­ HAVE THE BEST. I CAN ONLY MENTION A FEW THAT ARE UP­ THERE (REALLY) TERRY, RIO,­ GERRARD,LAMPARD,BECKHAM....THE REST ARE 4 ENGLISH FANS­ TO CHANT ABOUT...U NEED TO PLAY WITH LESS MOUTH AND­ EGO..AND WIN SOMETHING!!!!!

    From lanre a, on Tue 10 Feb 1:15AM

  18. Nice one R Ferdinand. But you've forgotton Erikson­ also have the same winning mentality. The fact that you­ all failed and let people down. Spain, with speedy­ strikers will give your defense good run for money.­ Besides, they are also technically, tactically, and­ more skillful players with better aptitude, attitude,­ professional than you money gragging whingebag.

    From Johnson, on Tue 10 Feb 12:52AM

  19. c41ng0ku, yeah, you wish.

    From sappercommando25, on Tue 10 Feb 12:45AM

  20. The Spanish shall put the English in their­ place......firmly....

    From sappercommando25, on Tue 10 Feb 12:45AM
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