Source: Team_Talk
Rio: Referee to blame for England exit
Rio Ferdinand is "sure" England would have beaten Germany if the officials had spotted Frank Lampard's shot crossed the line in Bloemfontein.[LNB] Ferdinand, ruled out of the competition with a knee injury, watched Germany run rampant to secure a place in the World Cup quarter-finals yesterday.[LNB]Joachim Low's side were 2-1 up when Lampard's shot hit the crossbar and landed a good yard over the line, only for the goal not to be given by the Uruguayan officials.[LNB]In the second half a dominant Germany showing rendered that decision academic but Ferdinand believes it may have been a different story had the sides gone in 2-2 at the break.[LNB]Speaking to The Sun, the Manchester United defender said: "If Lamps' goal had stood it would have been 2-2 and then the game would've turned on its head. We'd have been at full throttle. I'm sure we'd have gone on to win it.[LNB]"I was sitting here with my mates and we were all screaming at the TV along with everyone else in the pubs going bananas. I'm a professional footballer but I'm also a fan so I know what it's like.[LNB]"Your emotions get a grip of you and you think 'How's he not seen it?'[LNB]"It wasn't like a counter-attack or something, he was up there with the run of play. He has to be able to see that."[LNB]Ferdinand went on to say he sympathised with the fans' anger at the timid exit from the competition.[LNB]The relationship between the squad and their followers hit the headlines earlier in the competition when misfiring striker Wayne Rooney was captured criticising the booing supporters following the 0-0 draw with Algeria.[LNB]Ferdinand was more conciliatory than that.[LNB]"I understand fans' anger," he said. "People pay good money to go and watch football. If people are angry you can't knock that. They pay their hard-earned money to watch us all over the world so that's part and parcel of it.[LNB]"When you look at the names on our teamsheet, you'd have to say that not getting to the latter stages of the tournament that you've under-achieved.[LNB]"To look at it as an under-achievement, given the players we've got to choose from, is a fair point."[LNB]Ferdinand defended the man who made him England captain, albeit only after John Terry's personal indiscretions, and backed Fabio Capello to bounce back from the current calls for his head.[LNB]"I believe he's the man to take us to being a successful team. His track record is nothing to be sniffed at," he said.[LNB]"We've got the utmost respect for this manager. I've enjoyed every moment being around this manager. From the way he coaches to his professionalism, his experience - you can only learn from people like that."[LNB]Michael Owen, meanwhile, has blamed tactical naivety for England's early departure from South Africa.[LNB]Owen, who has not enjoyed favour with Capello since his appointment, thinks the rigid 4-4-2 employed against Germany was not fit for purpose.[LNB]Writing in the Daily Telegraph, the Manchester United striker said: "There is no-one in the world who can convince me that the German players are better than ours, but after seeing our team line-up I knew we were going to lose.[LNB]"I don't think it is down to our players so much; I just feel their formation has basically beaten ours.[LNB]"We were outplayed due to being tactically beaten.[LNB]"The days of 4-4-2 against a good team are going. I hoped the manager would revert to 4-5-1 as soon as we met stronger teams."
