CENTRE OF ATTENTION ... defender Ferdy

PATRICE EVRA reckons Roy Hodgson boosted France by dumping Rio Ferdinand for Euro 2012.

Ferdinand’s Manchester United pal Evra said: “I am really surprised Rio isn’t playing. He’s a big, strong player and I just don’t know what is happening.

“Maybe Rio has every reason to feel disappointed. Whatever though, it’s great for us.

“I will text him in the next few days to see how he is feeling.”

Ferdinand, 33, believes he was axed by England because otherwise he would have had to play alongside Chelsea skipper John Terry.

Terry faces a court case next month for the alleged racial abuse of Rio’s brother Anton.

England open their Group D campaign against Evra’s highly-rated French team next Monday.

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