Reds defender Rio Ferdinand says England need to gel as a team
if they are to succeed in major tournaments.
The current crop of English players have been described as a
"golden generation", with several of the national squad of world
renown. But Ferdinand says individuals are not enough to win the
big World Cups and European Championships.
"The players are as good as people say they are," he said. "On
paper, the squad has as much quality as anyone out there. But what
is written on paper doesn't win you matches and tournaments.
"Brazil are proof of that. Most of their midfield and attacking
players would get into any side at the World Cup but they didn't
win it. That shows great individuals do not necessarily make great
teams, which is why it doesn't really matter what people say about
the players themselves, it's the team that matters most."
Ferdinand is in Steve McClaren's squad for the fortchcoming
fixtures against Macedonia and Croatia along with six United
team-mates. The 27-year-old centre-back says the biggest task lying
ahead for McClaren's men is to ignore the hype that so often
surrounds the national side.
"People have spoken about this being the Golden Generation," he
added. "They said that about us before the World Cup and we didn't
do anything. But the management in place now will ensure the
players do not get lulled into a false sense of security and think
we have a divine right to be in the last four."