England should not recall Rio Ferdinand - Peter Shilton

By Saj ChowdhuryBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments510

Rio Ferdinand plays for England v Switzerland in June 2011

Rio Ferdinand should not be recalled to the national side because his "time has gone", according to former England captain Peter Shilton.

England coach Roy Hodgson must weigh up his defensive options after John Terry's international retirement.

Shilton, England's most-capped player, said: "I don't feel Rio should come back. We have to look to the future."

He believes Chelsea's Gary Cahill and Manchester City's Joleon Lescott should be England's centre-backs.

Ferdinand's last international appearance came in June last year, when England drew 2-2 with Switzerland in a Euro 2012 qualifier at Wembley.

The 33-year-old centre-half, who has 81 caps for his country, was not selected for the finals in Poland and Ukraine, with Hodgson citing "football reasons" for not picking the Manchester United centre-half.

Six weeks later, Terry went on trial accused of racially abusing Ferdinand's younger brother Anton during a Premier League match between QPR and Chelsea last October.

Terry, 31, was cleared at court of that charge, but this week quit international football the day before a Football Association hearing into the matter got under way, claiming his position with England had been made "untenable" as a result.

There had been speculation Terry's decision may prompt Ferdinand's returnexternal-link to the England set-up, but Shilton thinks that would be a bad move.

The former goalkeeper, who made 1,005 league appearances in a career lasting 31 years until his retirement in 1997, said: "His time has gone. We have to look to the future and I would look to the youth.

"Cahill is someone I've always admired and I thought Lescott had an excellent Euros. At the moment, I'd go with those two."

Former England captain Terry won 78 caps during a nine-year international career.

He made his last appearance for his country earlier this month, when England beat Moldova 5-0 in a World Cup qualifier.

Shilton thinks Terry was one of the outstanding players at Euro 2012 and says his international retirement is "premature".

"Reading the press, I think Roy Hodgson feels the same way," said the 63-year-old. "Terry was recognised not only for his playing ability, but also for his leadership qualities."

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510 comments

  • Comment posted by U14964084, at 12:18 26 Sep 2012

    Simple, Ferdinand isnt good enough! Boring story, player seems to spend more time on twitter then the football pitch!

  • Comment posted by Your Call Is Important To Us, at 11:59 26 Sep 2012

    Ferdinand is nowhere near the player he was 4/5 years ago and is past his prime. The only reason he should be called up is as back-up to Lescott, Cahill and Jagielka.

    It is time that we moved away from the 'golden generation' who have constantly let us down over the last 10 years and to start bringing through some of our younger talent.

  • Comment posted by the_emu_hunter, at 12:12 26 Sep 2012

    Should never play for England again, end of. He is the past and we have to look to the future now.

  • Comment posted by charlesburgessfry, at 12:02 26 Sep 2012

    Not even a debate really. Why would you go back to a 33 year old who is injured more often than not and whose best days are years behind him. As a final point, it would look like bowing to political correctness if he was recalled now that Terry has retired. Be clear about one thing - the court case has been about John Terry and Anton Ferdinand. Rio Ferdinand chose to take sides. Wrong decision.

  • Comment posted by Stephen Marsh, at 14:29 26 Sep 2012

    I think Jagielka & Lescott are the 1st choice pair, with Cahill close behind. But we need 4 CBs & if Rio stays fit & maintains form, why shouldn't he be considered?

    Shilton was a great keeper, but a poor manager & even worse pundit

    Terry is a legendary CB, the England set up will miss him, but he is also a divisive character (as Rio can be) so many fans won't be upset at either being gone..

  • Comment posted by U15436727, at 12:17 26 Sep 2012

    With all due respect to ex players, since Roy Hodgsen was appointed as manager lot of them have spoken about whom he must select and what he should do tactically etc in the media. I know they have great knowledge of football which i respect and they are entitled to their opinion but why cant they just let Roy do his job without putting him under any pressure.

  • Comment posted by virtualpurplehaze, at 13:44 26 Sep 2012

    Theres more to representing you country then playing football.
    Terry is an odious creature that shows the worst side of our fast degenerating country. Restore our dignity by having players with moral charactor.

  • Comment posted by Wayneselbow, at 22:26 26 Sep 2012

    484 if you listened to the David Coleman commentary he stated a Russian linesman. Whether he was right or not is questionable however my point is that England are an international embarrassment. Whether Rio, Rooney or who ever plays they are a sub standard outfit. Every tournament from 1966 the British press arrogantly predict victory. All is planned even the victorious homecoming. All unfounded.

  • Comment posted by U14428352, at 21:52 26 Sep 2012

    485 - Rio is 33, almost 34, not just turned 30, and you are talking about possibly the finest club team ever to play football when you refer to Barca. Who is Peter Shilton? One of Englands finest and most capped players, I think he knows what he's talking about..

  • Comment posted by LUFCAT, at 21:24 26 Sep 2012

    480.Laputa
    My point is that the most horrible things about mothers and sisters are said and the FA does nothing. If they want to clamp down on abuse I'm all for it. but don't be selective.

  • Comment posted by KneeBiter, at 17:43 26 Sep 2012

    Ferdinand would be a backwards step, he will be 35 at the next world cup. No point having him in the team.

  • Comment posted by jmack42, at 17:11 26 Sep 2012

    Ferdinand is past his best. Why look back just because Terry's gone? We have Cahill, Jagielka, Lescott and good youngsters like Jones, Smalling, Caulker and Kelly who can come through and do a good or dare I say it, a better job than Ferdinand can.

  • Comment posted by GrandPooBah, at 16:07 26 Sep 2012

    Peter shilton's 'time had gone' by italia 90?!

    His postioning was shocking for brahme's goal (yes i know i've probably spelt wrong) and Chris Woods might have gotten into the same post code as at least one of the german penalties!!

  • Comment posted by CityBoyCityBoy, at 13:10 26 Sep 2012

    Shilton says his time has gone. Oh the irony.

  • Comment posted by The Fount of ____, at 12:26 26 Sep 2012

    All England need is best. If they are old or young just the best is needed. And that is the manger's job not the FA's or me.

  • Comment posted by U15431118, at 12:10 26 Sep 2012

    @13 Ferdinand's ability isn't really in question. His inability to stay fit however means that he isn't the man we can rely on. We would be better off getting a couple of centre halfs to learn to play together rather than just adding Ferdinand into the mix when and if he is fit.

  • Comment posted by MFH07, at 11:56 26 Sep 2012

    who wants him! he is so slow and is weak in the air. DONT GET HIM BACK HODGSON, HE IS OLD DESERVES TO BE OUT OF THE SQUAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Comment posted by U14760793, at 15:43 27 Sep 2012

    Can R Hodgson not be a man and speak for himself, or is P shiltons word law, it seems a shame if Ferdinand has to suffer because Terry spits his DUMMY.

  • Comment posted by Pimlican, at 22:14 26 Sep 2012

    No debate really, he is too old for that position. Another player that was great for his club but never convincing for England.

  • Comment posted by _chris, at 21:06 26 Sep 2012

    Being England we're not exactly overburdened with technically gifted players with bags of experience at the highest level of football, so really it would be ridiculous to do away with one of the few we do have for no other reason than that he's in his early 30's. Injury prone though he may be, Rio's a class act when he's fit and well worth keeping around the squad for another few years yet.

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