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Ferdinand wants England overhaul

ESPN staff
July 13, 2014
Rio Ferdinand is concerned about the direction of English football © Getty Images
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Rio Ferdinand says that England should stop blaming the players for their failure and instead take inspiration from Germany's overhaul.

Ferdinand was in the England side that famously thrashed Germany 5-1 in 2001 which led to the defeated team addressing their coaching system.

Germany reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2010 and have impressed at this summer's tournament, hammering Brazil 7-1 to set up a final with Argentina on Sunday

Ferdinand is concerned about the direction of English football and believes the nation should adopt the same policy by introducing a "proper structure."

"They [Germany] used that defeat to inspire a transformation that would lead to them becoming one of the greatest sides in the world," Ferdinand said in the Mail on Sunday.

"They didn't blame the players for losing, they realised that the system was wrong and they changed the system.

"We need to do the same thing. We have to stop blaming players like Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard... there was talk about how they had lost heart, they hadn't given enough for their country.

"I promise you, this is absolute rubbish. When a player pulls on an England shirt he will do anything to win for his country. But there comes a time when it needs more than heart... it needs a proper structure that enables them to be the greatest team they can.

"Germany provided that structure and look what has happened. After that defeat 13 years ago, they ripped up the coaching manual and started again. They worked out what needed to be changed and they changed it."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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