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Manchester United: Why Roy Hodgson Is Treading a Fine Line over Rio Ferdinand
Published: March 17, 2013
It is hardly a surprising move, considering national manager Roy Hodgson has lost the services of John Terry to international retirement, Phil Jagielka's ankle injury and the fact Joleon Lescott is not playing regularly for Manchester City this season.
Ferdinand is enjoying an Indian summer to his career, gracing the Champions League with some impressive displays while also helping United to a 15-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
The decision to reinstate the 34-year-old to the international setup for the World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Montenegro was, as Hodgson rightly put it, "a no-brainer."
But has there ever been so much coverage and politicking over the reinstatement of a veteran defender to the England squad before?
The issue between Ferdinand and Terry has been well documented previously, as have the supposed "football reasons" for the United player's non-inclusion for England since his last cap, earned against Switzerland in June 2011.
Hodgson, of course, did not help his cause when he spoke indiscreetly with a member of the public on a London Tube train heading for Arsenal's Champions League fixture against Olympiakos in October.
The England manager subsequently apologised (BBC Sport), but his reported overheard comment to the passenger that "I think we are going to look to the future," when quizzed about Ferdinand's future, is perfectly valid for a national boss with a contract running up until the 2016 European Championships.
It would be fair to say that England have not fully impressed in their World Cup Group H qualification campaign to date, with two wins and two draws from their opening four games, including a 1-1 scoreline against second-bottom Ukraine.
And while the forthcoming match against San Ma...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football
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