• Euro 2012

Hodgson: You can't select Rio as squad player

ESPN staff
June 9, 2012
Roy Hodgson's squad selection has come under the microscope © Getty Images
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England manager Roy Hodgson has lifted the lid on his decision to omit Rio Ferdinand from his Euro 2012 squad, claiming that the Manchester United defender should not be picked if not considered a member of the starting XI.

Ferdinand's omission from the original 23-man squad baffled many in the game, and the sense of confusion only heightened when, after Chelsea's Gary Cahill was ruled out of the tournament due to injury, Liverpool's Martin Kelly came in as a replacement ahead of Ferdinand.

Hodgson has always insisted Ferdinand was left out for "footballing reasons", and not because of his relationship with John Terry. Terry will stand trial on July 9 charged with racially abusing Ferdinand's younger brother Anton, something the Chelsea captain denies.

And Hodgson has now, ahead of England's Euro 2012 opener with France on Monday, opted to shine some light on those "footballing reasons".

"Rio Ferdinand for me is not a player that you call up as a substitute, or to cover for the players that you have," Hodgson told ITV1. "We turned to Martin Kelly because I knew he was going to be someone who would be very useful to us.

"He's very happy to be here knowing that his chances of playing a big part in the tournament are quite small. You don't turn to people like Rio Ferdinand for that."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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