Flaky Ferdinand a throw-back to England’s dark ages

IF Fabio Capello’s reign as England manager had gone disconcertingly smoothly for the best part of two years, Saturday’s jolt in Ukraine was a throwback to bumpier times.

Chaotic defending, off-field controversy and, eventually, a frustrating defeat are all pitfalls which have snared previous England coaches and, while this was effectively a dead rubber for Capello given qualification for South Africa was already assured, the Italian will not be oblivious to the warning signs.

Chief among them was a wretched display from Rio Ferdinand. The Manchester United centre-half may claim the back injury he sustained in winning the Club World Cup in Yokohama last December is no longer an issue. Yet his performances since that six-week lay-off have lacked consistency.

He did not look fully fit for the Champions League final in Rome and his most notable contribution to the domestic season so far was being burned off by Craig Bellamy in last month’s Manchester derby.

Meanwhile, in the last two internationals, against Holland in August and Saturday night’s 1-0 defeat to the Ukraine, he has made significant mistakes.

Ferdinand’s 15th-minute blunder in allowing Artem Milevskyi to charge straight through the visitors’ defence left Robert Green with little alternative other than to make the fateful challenge that resulted in him becoming the first England goalkeeper to be shown a red card.

“No,” said Capello, when asked whether he was concerned about the defender.“He made one mistake during the game. It was a long ball that bounced and he didn’t judge the direction well.

“But after that he played a good game. At this moment he is making some mistakes but you cannot question Rio’s value.”

The loss of England’s perfect qualification record and his first defeat in a competitive game since succeeding the hapless Steve McClaren – sealed when Ashley Cole’s error allowed Sergiy Nazarenko to drive past David James – did not deflate Capello, although his players were more downbeat.

John Terry suggested the defeat proved how far England have to yet to improve before they can be considered genuine contenders in South Africa next year.

“Will this result calm people down? Maybe a little bit,” he reflected. “But we were never letting ourselves get complacent or thinking that we were world beaters. We realise we have still got a lot of improving to do. We can use these games as a base for that and that’s not changed.”

Wayne Rooney was last night ruled out of Wednesday’s meeting with Belarus with a calf injury. Goalkeeper Ben Foster has been called up to replace the suspended Green.

REFEREE: Damir Skomina (Slovenia) 4: Hapless. Initially showed red card to Ferdinand before being advised to change his mind by the fourth official.

MATCH RATING: *** Frenzied stuff.