Rio Ferdinand has told The Sun that his England career “might be over” after being overlooked by England manager Roy Hodgson for Euro 2012 for ‘footballing reasons’.
Ferdinand, who has been capped 81 times by England since 1997, said he would never retire from international football but accepted that not being picked during the injury crisis that hit the England camp prior to the start of the tournament was a sign that he might not be considered again in future. Rookie defender Martin Kelly of Liverpool was recently called up to the squad after Gary Cahill was ruled out with a broken jaw.
Fitness issues have increasingly plagued the United defender over the last two years but Ferdinand had been playing more regularly for United in the latter stages of last season and felt fit to join the England squad for the Euro 2012 tournament but was instead given the shock news of his omission while former England captain John Terry was included in the England squad.
For some, a link has been drawn between the strained relationship between Terry and Ferdinand after an incident earlier last season between the Chelsea captain and Rio’s brother Anton Ferdinand in which Terry was accused of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand during a match between Chelsea and QPR.
Terry denies the charge and will stand trial over the incident next month after the finals of Euro 2012.