London, May 29 (IANS) With England coach Fabio Capello all set to announce his final 23 for the World Cup in South Africa, captain Rio Ferdinand said he would console those who fail to make it so that they can emerge stronger from the experience.
Ferdinand, who has endured similar disappointments in the Euro 2000, said he would call the seven players who fail to make the cut to offer his own commiserations. Capello intends to confirm his selection Monday by calling all 30 members of his squad before announcing his selection Tuesday.
In 2000, the defender, then an emerging force at West Ham and 1998 World Cupper, was left out of the Euro 2000, by Kevin Keegan, who opted to include the experienced Gareth Southgate for the tournament in Belgium and the Netherlands.
‘I’ve been there, I’ve had that talk, that conversation where they say you’re ‘not experienced enough’, ‘not good enough’, or however they want to dress it up. You are not getting that chance to go on the plane and to have that said to you is not a nice thing, but I’ve been there and I’ve got the experience to deal with that. When the time comes I’m sure we will deal with it in the right way but the manager is top-drawer and I’m sure he will sort it out,’ Ferdinand was quoted as saying by The Guardian.
‘I was left out for Euro 2000 and it took me that summer to get over it. I was devastated but I went back to training, was a better professional, trained harder and became a better player and I say that for the younger players (left out this time) to probably do that as well. Being left out was probably a blessing in disguise. It made me re-evaluate myself and the way I looked at football. I probably hadn’t given the game the respect it deserved; that experience made me a better professional, so I should thank Kevin Keegan for that. The guys have to turn it into a positive,’ Ferdinand recalled.
Capello will have the last opportunity to assess fringe players, in Sunday’s friendly against Japan, before trimming his squad from 30 to 23.
Ferdinand admitted that for some people, it’s going to be a nervous few days.
‘It is pressure, you want to do well and you want to be on that plane to South Africa. I’ve got the experience of three World Cups previously, so nerves wouldn’t really kick in for me. But for some people it may do given they’ve not had the experience of being in that situation before.
‘A few people consolidated their positions Monday. The manager will make his own decisions, but the Japan friendly is another chance to implement his thoughts and ideas. We all want to show him what we can do,’ he said.
