England News

• Nickname:Three Lions
• Founded: 1872
• Manager:Roy Hodgson

• Ground:Wembley Stadium
• Capacity:90,000

Rio slams passion talk

25 Mar 2007 - 11:34:52

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Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand launched an attack on England's detractors who claim the players lack passion following Saturday's disappointing goalless draw with Israel in Tel Aviv.

Steve McClaren's side slipped five points off the pace at the top of their qualifying group for next summer's European Championships and now face a hard task to reach the finals in Austria and Switzerland.

But Ferdinand has hit out at claims in the media that the current crop of England players don't care about the national side and that missing next summer's finals wouldn't really affect them.

He said: "Anyone who thinks players don't care about playing for England, that going out of tournaments is water off a duck's back and they then just go and buy themselves a nice car, present or a house, is talking out of their backside.

"We haven't got to where we are playing for our countries and our clubs every week without hard work and sacrifices and the discipline to do well.

"Whether you wear an England shirt, a (Manchester) United shirt, or a Sunday league shirt everybody is passionate and wants to do well.

"In this England team, when we've lost it isn't a good atmosphere around the hotel or on the way back. That tells me that players don't like losing. You see it with the clubs, you shake someone's hand but inside you are burning with rage.

"I think everybody is like that in this squad. Hopefully that is what will set us apart and bring us through to be a successful side."