CAPELLO'S WARNING TO RIO FERDINAND

King's World Cup hopes dashed

FERDINAND: Must be fit for South Africa

By Rob Shepherd, 07/11/2009

FABIO CAPELLO has issued a warning to Rio Ferdinand and all England's top stars.

They will not go to next summer's World Cup finals unless they are FULLY fit.

That is why boss Capello last night ended Ledley King's hopes of making South Africa.

The Tottenham defender is no longer able to train properly.

Capello will not tolerate any player who thinks they can fool him by claiming they will recover in time for the big games just to ensure selection for the 23-man squad.

Under Sven Goran Eriksson, the 2002 and 2006 campaigns were hindered by the former England chief accommodating certain stars.

In 2002 David Beckham went to Japan and South Korea on the injured list. Declared fit to play, he was way below his best.

More ridiculously, Eriksson hung on for Kieron Dyer. Reserve Trevor Sinclair was flown home, only to fly straight back when Dyer failed a fitness test on the day the squad had to be lodged with FIFA.

In 2006, Eriksson took Wayne Rooney - despite him struggling with a broken metatarsal - picked a not long recovered Michael Owen and again gambled on Beckham's questionable fitness. In both tournaments, selecting too many players carrying injuries meant England ran out of options when it counted.

Even if Ferdinand makes a surprise Manchester United return against Chelsea today, Capello is unlikely to risk the player further by taking him to Doha for next week's friendly against Brazil.

Capello said: "Rio Ferdinand is one of the best centre-backs in the world but needs to be properly fit to play for England.

"I don't know if he will be fit to play against Chelsea. We will see. Then I will decide about the Brazil game.

"But, yes, I have heard the rumours he could be out for six or eight weeks.

"There is still a long time to go to the World Cup. By then I hope he will not have a problem and is playing before we go.

"If that is the case, there is no problem. But if he is not playing in the games ahead of the World Cup, that is a problem. As it is for every player.

"The players who will be with me for the World Cup will all be fit. They have to be. Little things OK but bigger problems absolutely no."

King can play one game a week, at best, because of chronic knee problems.

Capello added: "It is impossible for him to go with us to the World Cup."

Portsmouth keeper David James is also struggling to play more than a game a week but is likely to make the party even if only as understudy to Robert Green.

And Carlton Cole's injury KO may throw Darren Bent a last chance to press his case.

Your comments

This article has 1 comment

It's great to see this attitude adorned by Capello, If you're not fit and not playing you won't go. What's crazy is that this is obviously just common sense, But as the saying goes "common sense isn't common anymore" As we could conclude in the cases of Sven and McClaren whilst at the England helm.

Rio I hope is only having a blip because he has always been decent for England but he certainly doesn't appear to be the same player we've all seen before.

I think Becks should be at his best (fitness wise) in comparison to the previous 2 WC's and I hope he's included in the squad, providing he's getting games at Milan come April/May time

By Dan Lewis.. Posted November 8 2009 at 12:38 PM.

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