World Cup

Article

Ferdinand defends Qatar trip

21 March 2013 16:30

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has dismissed criticism of his decision to fly to Qatar to work as a television pundit.

The 34-year-old withdrew from Roy Hodgson's squad for the World Cup qualifying double header against San Marino and Montenegro, citing his need to follow an 'intricate pre-planned programme' to stay fit.

The Peckham-born centre-back was widely criticised when it emerged that he would travel to the Middle East during the international break to comment on Friday's clash against San Marino on television.

But Ferdinand has defended his actions on Twitter, writing: "I've flown out for some pre-planned downtime ... with a bit of punditry thrown in for a game I would have watched anyway.

"Haters are gonna hate ... also assume everything ... although it must be the gospel truth based on assumptions.

"No different from what I did in the last 10 day international break ... thank you guys."

Ferdinand won the last of his 81 England caps during a Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland back in 2011.

Info

San Marino

L L L L L

0 - 8

England

D W W L D

Competition

Half-time: 0 - 5
Full-time: 0 - 8

Venue: Stadio Olimpico di Serravalle (Serravalle)
Attendance: 4980

Goals

	0 - 1	12' Alessandro Della Valle (OG)
	0 - 2	28' A. Oxlade-Chamberlain (assist by W. Rooney)
	0 - 3	35' J. Defoe (assist by A. Oxlade-Chamberlain)
	0 - 4	39' A. Young (assist by L. Baines)
	0 - 5	42' F. Lampard (assist by L. Baines)
	0 - 6	54' W. Rooney
	0 - 7	70' D. Sturridge (assist by A. Young)
	0 - 8	78' J. Defoe (assist by K. Walker)

Lineups

Player	Bookings
A. Simoncini
F. Vitaioli
Alessandro Della Valle	12'
D. Simoncini	53'
M. Cervellini	59'
M. Palazzi
F. Bollini
A. Gasperoni
E. Cibelli
A. Selva
M. Vitaioli
Coach: G. Mazza

Player	Bookings
J. Hart
L. Baines
J. Lescott
K. Walker
C. Smalling
F. Lampard	42'
A. Young	39'
T. Cleverley
W. Rooney	54'
J. Defoe	35' 78'
A. Oxlade-Chamberlain	28'
Coach: R. Hodgson

Substitutes

Player	Bookings
L. Buscarini for E. Cibelli 65'
D. Rinaldi for A. Selva 75'
C. Valentini for F. Bollini 81'
A. Bianchi
Alex Della Valle
D. Vannucci
F. Valentini
M. Coppini
S. Bacciocchi

Player	Bookings
D. Sturridge for W. Rooney 56'	70'
L. Osman for T. Cleverley 56'
S. Parker for F. Lampard 66'
A. Cole
B. Foster
D. Welbeck
F. Forster
J. Milner
M. Carrick
S. Caulker
S. Gerrard
S. Taylor

Friday 24 May

01:39

Osieck backs Schwarzer to shine

Thursday 23 May

23:59	Van der Gun shoots Utrecht to away win
23:39	Firmino double fires Hoffenheim to win
21:41	Davies hails ´great´ debut season
21:17	Foster happy with eighth-placed finish
20:15	Wickham eyeing first team
19:44	UEFA to announce Europa League incentive
19:31	Fonte looking to hit the ground running
19:21	Hodgson keen to hand Jones defensive role
18:43	Onuoha: Keep the faith with QPR owners
18:09	Karagounis praises Fulham fans
18:07	McDermott: Byram keen on Leeds stay
18:02	Martinez´s Wigan future to be decided next week
17:47	Rodriguez: I think I will leave Porto
17:44	Erbes ´relaxed´ ahead of Newell´s clash
17:20	CSL Preview: Shandong Luneng eye top spot
17:18	Kwakman to leave Groningen
16:45	Werder Bremen complete Petersen signing
16:28	Mancini Inter return is possible, says Moratti
16:20	Baines: Everton must progress without Moyes
16:07	Nicollin: Cabella worth 100 million euros
15:56	Demel proud of West Ham´s home record
15:49	Debuchy: Premier League is difficult
15:21	Pazzini to miss start of next season
15:09	Ferdinand extends Manchester United deal
14:23	Pulis thanks fans after Stoke departure
14:07	Berlin to host 2015 UEFA Champions League final
14:04	Werder face Dutt wait
13:43	Finke appointed Cameroon boss
13:38	Wilshere keen to improve after comeback season
13:08	Vieira excited by MLS franchise
13:04	Rodgers wants quick decision on Carroll future
12:55	Kagawa wants European success
11:21	Mata hopes for Mourinho arrival
10:44	Welbeck disappointed with goals tally
10:36	UEFA Champions League Preview: Borussia Dortmund v Bayern Munich
10:23	Zabaleta excited by Pellegrini
09:53	Ramos: Bale is ´Real Madrid-quality´
08:59	Hart urges City to go forward
05:27	Copa Libertadores Wrap: Santa Fe earn away win
05:24	Fiorentina reject Jovetic rumours
05:16	Piszczek set for post-season surgery
04:48	Adriano signs Barca extension
04:33	International Friendly: Venezuela 2 El Salvador 1
04:22	Bundesliga chief slams Qatar World Cup scheduling
03:52	Gignac wants Barton to stay
02:35	Ramsey, Walcott hail Wenger´s achievements
02:20	Loew regrets timing of German finale

Wednesday 22 May

20:56	Mourinho and Ronaldo given two-match bans
20:48	AFC Champions League Wrap: Lekhwiya hold on to progress
20:37	Thomas, Jara released by West Brom
20:16	Martinez to decide future
20:04	Pearce: Championship will not hold back McCarthy
19:05	Pulis: I understand Stoke´s decision
18:39	Vidic reflects on ´amazing´ season
18:17	Bale: Spurs will bounce back
17:56	Petrov to become academy coach at Aston Villa
17:56	De Laurentiis begins search for Mazzarri replacement
17:52	New York City FC appoint Reyna
17:50	Pardew: We should try emulate Liverpool
17:20	Ribery: Bayern stronger than Dortmund
17:04	Conte building for the future at Juventus
16:52	Bundesliga Play-off Preview: Hoffenheim v Kaiserslautern
16:52	Ibrahimovic coy on PSG future
16:33	Goetze to miss Champions League final
16:22	Giroud wants better European showing from Arsenal
16:07	Chelsea´s England players to leave tour early
16:05	Fiorentina capture Yakovenko
15:25	Pellegrini and Malaga to part company
15:04	Fulham sign Boateng
14:50	Green wants first-team football at QPR
14:12	Britton set for surgery
14:03	Neville interested in Everton job
13:42	Holloway: Brighton incident motivated Palace players
13:36	Rodgers confident of keeping Suarez at Liverpool
13:25	Eredivisie Preview: Twente v Utrecht
13:21	Etherington praises Pulis´ work at Stoke
13:17	Vlaar excited for new season at Aston Villa
12:01	Badstuber sidelined for 10 months after knee surgery
11:21	Clichy: Manchester City were right to sack Mancini
11:10	Cole set for West Ham departure
10:27	Lampard: It was tough under Benitez
10:11	Mourinho branded a ´failure´
06:44	Carroll out of England squad
05:37	Nasri throws support behind Pellegrini
05:07	Kewell unhappy with Australia omission
04:58	Messi: Neymar would be a wonderful addition
01:22	Doll: Dortmund are not underdogs

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