Rio Ferdinand can't believe Gareth Southgate and says duo have 'smacked him in the face'
Rio Ferdinand was infuriated with Gareth Southgate’s claim that England have failed to find a Kalvin Phillips replacement and insisted that two clear candidates have “smacked him in the face” at Euro 2024.
Southgate stunned fans and critics alike after England’s dismal 1-1 draw against Denmark last week. After a poor midfield display which involved a failed experiment in playing Trent Alexander-Arnold alongside Declan Rice, the England manager defended his choice of line-up, claiming “we know we don’t have a natural replacement for Kalvin Phillips.”
Central midfielder Phillips was a key cog in England’s progression to the Euros finals in 2021. But he has since endured two woeful years at Manchester City, playing little football before suffering from bad form on loan at West Ham, which led to Southgate leaving him out of the squad for Germany.
Ferdinand was among those baffled by the comments, given that England have two fantastic midfield talents in Adam Wharton and Kobbie Mainoo currently available in the squad. And he pointed out on VIBE with FIVE that Southgate has had plenty of time to find his best central midfield duo leading up to Euro 2024.
The former England defender and pundit fumed: “You’ve had two years to work out a replacement and then two come and smack you in the face - Wharton and Mainoo - who can play in that role. And you’ve got Jude Bellingham, drop him back to the eight or the six position because the system isn’t working.
“If Southgate doesn’t come out and address that point about Phillips in the next conference I’ll be outraged. You can’t come out and say that as the England manager.
“For two years you haven’t found a replacement. Why not? Why not?! One of the most important parts of the team when you’re building to win anything is that central midfield area! And we can’t find a replacement for someone who hasn’t started a game for two years consistently. It’s crazy.”
England's Kalvin Phillips leaves the game injured as manager Gareth Southgate consoles him during the UEFA Nations League match at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany. Picture date: Tuesday June 7, 2022.
Southgate snubbed Mainoo and Wharton once more for a starting place in Tuesday’s final Group C clash with Slovenia, which ended in another dismal 0-0 draw. Conor Gallagher was picked in place of Alexander-Arnold but was taken off at half-time, demonstrating that the manager was aware he got it wrong.
Mainoo replaced him and England looked much more creative as a result. Southgate praised the “control” offered by the 19-year-old, stating it was “logical” to bring him on in order to connect the game with his “different” attributes.
He added, however, that he feels a responsibility to protect the squad’s younger players by not throwing them in under pressure. It remains to be seen whether Southgate will finally hand Mainoo or Wharton a start in their last-16 knockout tie. And the latter even gave his own thoughts on the Three Lions boss’ strange comments.
Crystal Palace youngster Wharton, 20, said: "I have got belief that no matter who, where, when I play football, I can affect a game, so you have to think like that. If I think I can’t handle this, then what am I doing here? The way I look at it now, I believe I can affect any game I play so I am just making sure I am ready if I am called upon to help.
COLOGNE, GERMANY - JUNE 25: Kobbie Mainoo of England runs with the ball during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between England and Slovenia at Cologne Stadium on June 25, 2024 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
"You look at the last Euros and Kalvin was one of the best players for England and we got to the final. If there was someone like that playing at this tournament, you'd be saying the same thing I think.
“It's difficult to say because I've not seen too much of him the last couple of seasons. But there's probably similarities in where we play and certain attributes, but there's obviously going to be things he's better than me at and I'm better than him at.
“If I was to describe my game I would just say ‘it’s pretty simple but effective.’ If you’ve got great players in attack, like the (Jude) Bellinghams, the (Phil) Fodens, then you have to get them in the pockets. All I want to do if you’ve got players like that is give them the ball because that’s when they come alive to produce bits of magic, create chances, score goals, things like that.”