World Cup qual. - Ferdinand: England were a circus

Eurosport - Wed, 15 Oct 13:26:00 2008

England defender Rio Ferdinand said the national team set-up was like a circus until the arrival of Italian Fabio Capello as manager in January.

2008 England Rio Ferdinand - 0

The Manchester United defender, who will captain his country against Belarus in the World Cup qualifier in Minsk as stand-in for the injured John Terry, said the players became obsessed by their celebrity lifestyles.

"I think we got caught up in all the hype," Ferdinand said. "We became celebrities in terms of the WAG (wives and girlfriends) situation. There was a big show around the England squad.

"It was like a theatre unfolding and football became a secondary element to the main event. We were caught in the bubble ourselves."

Ferdinand's claims focused mainly on the 2006 World Cup, when manager Sven-Goran Eriksson allowed the WAGs to stay near the team hotel in the German spa town of Baden-Baden.

"In Baden-Baden, there were paparazzi everywhere, our families were there. When you step back it was like a circus," Ferdinand said.

England lost in a penalty shoot-out to Portugal at the quarter-final stage in Germany following a goalless draw.

Ferdinand contrasted the freedom the players previously enjoyed with Capello's strict approach, which has included banning family, friends and agents from the team hotel.

"This is a very, very professional regime," Ferdinand added. "Very result-orientated, very much like a lot of our clubs. The results come a long way before the performances.

"You see how he (Capello) is on the training ground, in our meetings, that there's a winning mentality there."

England will try to make it four wins from four qualifiers in Belarus.

"This regime is very watertight. We have to take everything we can from the manager because of his vast experience," added Ferdinand. "If we can do that, England will go in the right direction.

"I don't want to speak too soon, but you can see that we're at the start of something and, hopefully, there will be bigger rewards than we have had in the past."

Reuters

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  1. Post 23. PeterSheridan45 says it all. He's spot on!­ someone talking sense a REAL football fan, not too many­ of them on here!

    From Peter, on Wed 15 Oct 9:25AM

  2. We as a country expect England to qualify, yet when we­ reach the major competitions we fail to impress and­ buckle under the pressure! We have proved at club level­ what we are capable of but when they put that England­ shirt on, it goes to pot! If you want to watch your­ country play with pride and passion. Watch England­ Rugby! Those boys get paid a pitance compared to­ footballers and they actually respect the Ref!

    From Danny, on Wed 15 Oct 9:22AM

  3. A load of posing prima-donnas. The Kazaks work rate put­ our players to shame on saturday.

    Perennial under­ achievers. Still i don't suppose a lot of fans care­ about their national teams anymore, they're more­ worried about there franchiesed "local"­ clubs.

    From Andrew G, on Wed 15 Oct 9:14AM

  4. there is no doubt that england would qualify but as­ usual lost in quarter final ...

    From azhanm, on Wed 15 Oct 9:11AM

  5. Nice guy. I want to meet him again on

    From Miller M, on Wed 15 Oct 9:10AM

  6. I WAS BOOING COLE AT WEMBLEY, THESE MUGS GET BIG BUCKS­ YET THE FANS ARE LOOKED UPON AS VERMIN, THEY GET THEIR­ MONEY FROM OUR POCKETS, SHOW US RESPECT YOU SAPS

    From gerry, on Wed 15 Oct 9:10AM

  7. WERE a circus? I thought they still were ... I saw 11­ clowns on Saturday ...

    How hard is Rio trying to keep­ the captaincy?! Lol I bet Capello's car is the­ shiniest one at the training ground!!

    I only think he­ was confirming what we already knew anyway ... that­ they're a bunch of arrogant prima donas who are­ wrapped up in themselves.

    From Paul G, on Wed 15 Oct 9:05AM

  8. As an Irishman when I look at the England squad­ compered to ours i am really envious . We can only hope­ to qualify for world cup where as England has a great­ chance of winning it with the squad they have . As a­ passionate football supporter I was very disappointed­ when none of the home nations qualified for the Euro­ 2008 tournament . In Capello i think you have a great­ manager who knows the game inside out and I think you­ can do really well in this next world cup . So i think­ all the England supporters should get behind the­ manager and team and give them your total support . I­ for one will be cheering you on and hope you do well .

    From petersheridan45, on Wed 15 Oct 8:54AM

  9. to tom k who is this PARKER? Is by any chance the man­ who critisize Capello last week formation and England­ won 5-1

    From dante, on Wed 15 Oct 8:48AM

  10. Ferdinand is not the role model professional to be­ issuing such comments.He is a drug cheating, party­ going prankster, not fit to be England vice captain.­ The jerk is an @#$%.

    From Terence P, on Wed 15 Oct 8:42AM

  11. Yes it was a circus and that is why some fans booed­ Cole.We get fed up of you so called super stars taking­ the piss with the fans.

    From mark, on Wed 15 Oct 8:37AM

  12. ime speechless! bring parker back.

    From tom, on Wed 15 Oct 8:35AM

  13. Nothing surprising,
    he is just repaying for­ captain's armband.

    From Hrishikesh Kulkarni, on Wed 15 Oct 8:32AM

  14. England what do you want a Squad of loosing­ "whores" or a team of mediocre ability being­ trained to become a great English team! Make up your­ mind!!!

    From dante, on Wed 15 Oct 8:30AM

  15. rio was the biggest clown in that circus - he had his­ stupid murking show and was part of the those both­ regimes and never spoke out like this.

    From r.r.d, on Wed 15 Oct 8:27AM

  16. I think Rio is right -(Even though as a Chelsea fan it­ pains me to say it) But it's about time Football­ reared it's ugly head again.

    Come on ENGLAND :))

    From H C, on Wed 15 Oct 8:24AM

  17. at last a bit of sense

    From skintus, on Wed 15 Oct 8:20AM

  18. By Jove spell the name "CAPELLO"­ CORRECTLY!!!!

    From dante, on Wed 15 Oct 8:19AM

  19. to janijones RIO IS NOT A "BROWN NOSE"­ FERDINAND HAS REAL "PALLE=BALLS"

    From dante, on Wed 15 Oct 8:15AM

  20. Rio Ferdinand has English diplomat skills to put it­ mildly he has "balls" The Italian Manager now­ drills the Squad to win up-hill battles!!

    From dante, on Wed 15 Oct 8:11AM
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