Keeping fit: Ferdinand played in a charity football game in Bangkok

Richards’ omission is different. He refused to go on standby when informed he had not made the original 23-man party. But Hodgson may struggle to defend the decision to ignore Ferdinand for just ‘football reasons’ when Cahill’s setback, and the loss of Chris Smalling prior to that, leaves him with Terry, Joleon Lescott, Phil Jones and Phil  Jagielka as his centre halves for the tournament.

Jagielka did not even make the original squad. He was called in on standby for the Norway game and promoted when Gareth Barry suffered a groin injury in Oslo.

Cahill’s news ended a desperate week, the new England manager having already lost Frank  Lampard (thigh strain) and Barry.

« Previous123456Next »