England: Rio Ferdinand

While a general feeling of foreboding swept throughout the country when the World Cup draw was made on December 1, there was one player who took it all in his stride: Rio Ferdinand.

While a general feeling of foreboding swept throughout the country when the World Cup draw was made on December 1, there was one player who took it all in his stride.

Despite the success enjoyed under Sven-Goran Eriksson since he took over as coach, many critics are not hopeful of England’s chances of qualifying from what has already been dubbed the ‘The Group of Death’.

Argentina, who swept through South American qualifying and are now rated tournament favourites, the strongest African contender in Nigeria and Eriksson’s home country in Sweden, a nation England have not beaten since 1968, all lie in perilous wait.

Rio Ferdinand, however, exudes a confident air of a player who reckons England will not only stride into the knockout phase of the competition, but can actually go on and lift the trophy.

Fanciful it may be, but the Leeds skipper, who still carries the tag of the world’s most expensive defender at £18million, is one of the most self-assured players you are likely to encounter.

No prospect seems too daunting and no reputation seems to faze a fearless Ferdinand on whose shoulders rest the hopes of every England football fan as he and Sol Campbell will provide the defensive foundations for potential success.

‘‘I am the first to admit it is a difficult draw with Argentina, Nigeria and Sweden all in our group, but I know we will be all right,’’ enthused Ferdinand.

‘‘It could certainly have been easier, but if we are going to do well then we will have to face all the best teams, so why not get them out of the way early on?

‘‘This is a young squad with England and a squad without fear. We don’t look at ourselves as inferior to any other team so the confidence is there.

‘‘We know other countries may have more experience than us but we believe if we play to our full potential we will be as good as any team in the competition.

‘‘I won’t speak out about what it was like with England in the past but if we want to win something then we have to remain as one that’s exactly how the England squad is right now.

‘‘A lot of players in the set-up have grown up together. If we are all pulling together in the same direction then we have a good chance of winning.’’

As bold a statement as you are likely to hear from a player who refuses to believe he will ever be one of the first names down on Eriksson’s team sheet.

But Ferdinand has grown in such stature since leaving West Ham to join Leeds in December 2000, he is generally regarded as the best centre back in the country.

Ferdinand commands respect from both team-mates and opponents alike, but the memory of missing out on Euro 2000, despite being a member of the squad for France 98, is one which still haunts him to this day.

‘‘I know a lot of people think that I have already secured a place in the England squad for the World Cup, but I’m not taking anything for granted,’’ stressed Ferdinand.

‘‘I will never forget how bad it felt when I got axed from the England squad for Euro 2000. That is why I don’t feel as though it is me and one other for the two England central defensive jobs. I cant afford to think like that.

‘‘There’s no way I would ever say I have cemented my place in the England team. I am still nervous every time a side is being selected.

‘‘Everybody who knows me knows how much it hurt and what effect it had when I was left out of Kevin Keegan’s squad for the last European Championships. I never want anything like that to happen to me again.’’