Rio Ferdinands Olympic silver lining

While John Terry has got the nod for Englands Euro 2012 campaign, for fellow central defender Rio Ferdinand, his omission looks to have ended his international career

Stuart Pearce will run the rule over the players snubbed in Roy Hodgsons squad for Euro 2012. That will see Micah Richards, Adam Johnson and Tom Cleverley join Ryan Giggs in the reckon for Team Great Britains squad at the London Olympics.

It could also see Rio Ferdinand make the unlikeliest of international swansongs after his England career was brought to an abrupt end.

Pearce is yet to name his squad for the London Games, but has drawn up a shortlist of 80 players.

Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck, Ashley Young and Phil Jones were among them and will now be discounted after being named by Hodgson for Poland and Ukraine.

Candidate

It remains to be seen if Ferdinand and even Michael Carrick will join the Olympic reckoning with Pearce able to name three players over the age of 23.

Giggs and David Beckham look set to take up two of those spots and, given Ferdinands status in the modern game, he would be an ideal candidate.

Pearce has long been an admirer of Richards, working with him at England Under 21 level and even naming him in his squad when taking temporary charge of the senior team against Holland in February.

Richards will be devastated to miss out on the Euros after forcing his way back into the international picture following the departure of Fabio Capello.

But a chance to represent Team GB would be something of a consolation in a season that has already seen City win the Premier League title.

Hodgsons selection was never going to be greeted with universal approval, but Ferdinand and Rich! ards are two with most reason to consider themselves unfortunate to be left behind.

Ferdinand was outstanding in Uniteds bid to win a 20th title making 38 appearances, which was his highest total for three years.

Richards, meanwhile, must come to terms with the reality that Hodgson like Fabio Capello before him does not consider the City defender among the best three right backs in the country, lagging behind the injured Walker, Glen Johnson and Jones.

Facing the media at Wembley yesterday the England manager stressed that Ferdinands omission was purely based on football.

Hodgson insisted Ferdinands exclusion had nothing to do with any potential issues between him and John Terry, who faces charges over allegations he racially abused the United defenders brother Anton.

Instead it appears Ferdinands record for England since 2010 was the deciding factor.
Honeymoon over as Englands new man Roy Hodgson rings changes

Roy Hodgson: Rio Ferdinand left out of England Euro 2012 squad over 'football matters' - video

I had to decide on the basis of what Ive seen in recent months and, in particular, I was influenced also to some extent by the fact that Rio hasnt played very much since the World Cup and only played once for England in the last year, said Hodgson.

I had a private conversation with Sir Alex Ferguson 10 days ago. I think Rio has done exceptionally well this year. He's played a lot of matches through injury. He's got himself on the field of play when many a player wou! ldn't ha ve done so.

Im also wary of that because I know there have been times in the season where Rio has played three matches in a week.

I would be lying if the ability to play matches close together was the major reason for not selecting him. It was purely on other footballing reasons.

I admire Rio as a player. I think hes a fine footballer and I respect him, but I had to pick a squad with defenders I wanted to take to the Euros.

At the age of 33, this was always likely to be Ferdinands last major tournament but Hodgson appears to have brought the curtain down on his international career sooner than he expected.

Ferdinand hinted as much last night when he took to Twitter to express his feelings.

Absolutely loved playing for England. To say Im gutted is an understatement of the highest order... he tweeted.

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