Rio Ferdinand, new English captain for the match against Montenegro
The 31-year-old Rio Ferdinand has been named as the skipper of the English football national team for the Euro Cup 2012 qualifier match against Montenegro.
The veteran centre back from the Manchester United football club usurped the captaincy of the National team from the Liverpool football team’s skipper Steven Gerrard. It is to be notified that Gerrard served as the captain of English team in the absence
of Ferdinand.
On the other hand, the 26-year-old striker Darren Ashley Bent is suffering from a groin injury, which occurred during the practice session on Monday, and therefore, he has been sidelined from the qualifier match against Montenegro at Wembley. Now the ace
striker Peter Crouch will take part instead of Bent.
The English are dealing with some serious issues regarding injuries of their key players. It is also reported that midfielder John Terry is struck with a back injury and will not be available to participate in the upcoming qualifier match. On the other hand,
the centre back Phil Jagielka of the Everton football club is also suffering from hamstring injury and his chances of playing in the match against Montenegro are also very bleak. Now the defender from the Manchester City football club Joleon Lescott will most
likely take part and join Ferdinand in the central defence.
The current situation and injuries of the key performers of English team is not less than a tension for the Italian English boss Fabio Capello. Now Fabio is left with very less options to select a playing eleven team in the upcoming match.
When Capello was asked about the matter, he expressed his thoughts very anxiously and told the media that the English team is a strong squad and he is very hopeful for better results. When Capello was asked about selecting Ferdinand as the captain, the 64-year-old
boss said that he called Steven Gerrard and told him that Ferdinand will lead the team as a captain in the match against Montenegro and Gerrard understood it pretty well. He said he is very confident and hopeful to see a good chemistry and teamwork from the
English side.
Capello seems keen and confident in experimenting with the English squad. When he was asked about the fact he told the media that he had already decided to make Ferdinand the skipper of the team and he just wants to see the best game from English team.
It is also reported that Rio Ferdinand is still dealing with his knee injury. When Capello was asked about his health condition, he told that he has monitored the current situation of Ferdinand and to him Ferdinand is hundred percent fit and can play perfectly
well for his team.
Before this Rio Ferdinand was named as the skipper of English team for the World Cup after John Terry was dismissed because of the allegations about his private and personal life. Ferdinand failed to participate in every match in South Africa because of
his knee injury. In the absence of Ferdinand, the ace mid fielder Steven Gerrard performed his duties as the skipper and displayed some good results for the English team as well. Gerrard’s role as the captain was also admired by Fabio Capello. It is also to
be remembered that in the captaincy of Gerrard the England team has won opening two qualifying matches of Euro 2012.
Now when the captaincy is reverted to Ferdinand, it seems as a new experiment by the Italian. It is also to be noticed that Capello’s role as manager of English team is also being strongly criticized by the fans and media.
Ferdinand last played for his country in the world cup qualifier match against Belarus at Wembley one year ago. Coming back to the scene after a long absence is certainly going to be a tough challenge for him.
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