Ferdinand injury paves the way for true heroes to show their colours

Gazza crying at Italia ’90, Beckham’s red card at France ’98, and Rooney stamping on Carvalho’s prized possessions at Germany ’06. It’s moments like these which epitomise the World Cup for England, and are the catalyst for some very painful memories amongst the masses. Rio Ferdinand’s injured knee doesn’t fall into the same category as Gazza’s crying shame, or Beckham and Rooney’s petulant acts of violent conduct, but I get the feeling it’s going to cast a rather dark cloud over England’s 2010 campaign in South Africa and fuel the pessimism amongst many England supporters. Not for me, however. In fact, it has the opposite effect.

Rio is recognised as a senior player in the England squad, and one that Capello would rely upon to lead the side with pride, strength and more importantly an example to follow for the other, less senior players in the 23, both on and off the pitch. That isn’t available anymore, and people will be questioning where that will come from. Well, I can see plenty of players bursting at the seams with determination and inspiration, two qualities that are essential for a successful World Cup campaign.

Now that the captaincy has been handed over to the correct man, Steven Gerrard, we not only have a person capable of invigorating a group of overpaid showmen to perform like they’ve never performed before in an England shirt, we have a footballer who knows what being a captain means. Since he took over the Liverpool armband from Sami Hyypia back in 2003, Gerrard has led the Reds as if he was Regimental Sergeant Major of the British Army. His desire to win and determination to be the man to bring success home makes him the perfect choice to lead England into their 11th World Cup since the 1966 triumph on home soil.

As for Wayne Rooney, he’s a bulldog and a true fighter. He will never give up, no matter what the situation and no matter how poorly the team are performing as a unit and as a group of individuals. He showed signs of that in the turgid friendly victory over Japan, with crunching tackles and a dogged work-rate which delivered him the man-of-the-match award. His goals will be crucial for the team, and his attitude on both sides of the touchline will be priceless. He’s Capello’s prize asset, and one that should be wrapped in cotton wool until the big kick-off in Rustenburg on 12th June.

Rooney has shown on numerous occasions for Manchester United his will and hunger to play football and achieve at the highest level,  and he matches and even lies superior to Gerrard in that respect.

Finally, Joe Cole becomes the 3rd member of a trio that will be so important to England’s World Cup hopes this Summer. He’s been out of action for 90% of the season but has returned, and returned to form at just the right time for Capello and England. He’s a fantastic trickster on the ball, has the ability to beat any defender in the world, has scored more than his fair share of important goals for both Chelsea and the national team, and remains a fans’ favourite. He’s another one, like Rooney and Gerrard, who will give his left leg to win the World Cup and whether it’s Brazil or Honduras standing in their way, 110% is what will be given. Forget Ferdinand, who I don’t think knows the true meaning of being a leader and being an inspiration, and forget Terry who’s shown exactly what kind of man he is in the past 6 or 7 months. The country’s hopes of winning the World Cup rest on the shoulders of Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, and Joe Cole.

Don’t get me wrong, the other 20 players in the squad will play a big role if we were to lift the trophy for the first time in 44 years. It takes a team, a unit, an entity to win such a massive tournament. What I’m saying is, just as Messi, Tevez and Aguero will be a fundamental part of Argentina’s formula, Gerrard, Rooney, and Joe Cole will be the same for England.

So, with Ferdinand out of the World Cup and bemoaning his luck, or lack of, with injuries this season, it brings about the opportunity for someone else to step up and be a hero for their country. A chance to embed their name in the hearts of every single person supporting England forever. Ferdinand’s replacement will be Michael Dawson, arguably Tottenham’s main man in their successful quest for 4th spot in the Premier League. He arrives in Africa with confidence at an all-time high, and the overriding emotion of jubilation evident on his pale, blonde-haired exterior. Whilst it’s probable that Dawson won’t start a single game in SA, Ledley King’s fitness is still under question, and this may leave him in the frame for a call-up alongside Jamie Carragher, who will also act as Glen Johnson’s understudy.

If King is fit enough to participate in the best part of the tournament, there’s no doubt in my mind that he would be the perfect man to do the job alongside Terry at the heart of England’s defence. Carragher would be next in line for me, with Dawson behind him, and Matthew Upson even further down the pecking order. Upson, for me, just doesn’t have it at International level, and I don’t even think he’s done a particularly solid job for West Ham this year. Whilst it’s unfair and irrational to blame one man for a club’s downfall, Upson does make up a very important part of the West Ham side, and some of the blame for their disappointing form this year has to be dealt out to him. However, as Owen Hargreaves showed in Germany 4 years ago, previous form and reputation go out of the window in such a high-pressured environment, and a World Cup may just be the making of Matthew Upson, provided he gets a chance in the limelight.

So, no Ferdinand could be a blessing in disguise in my mind, and as a Liverpool fan and a Gerrard fanatic, the prospect of him leading out England in the World Cup is something I’m very much looking forward to.