Rio can realise Brazilian dream

Steve Curry Thursday, June 13, 2002

Rio Ferdinand has dreamed about Brazil since he was a boy. He would go into the playgrounds and parks, such as they were around his Peckham council estate, to practise his balls skills and dream he was on Copacabana Beach. He is now a millionaire player, one who grows in stature with each passing game and whose towering performances at the heart of England's defence against Argentina and Nigeria have led to comparisons with the late Bobby Moore. Ferdinand is fast becoming a master of his defensive trade, yet still he dreams about the men in the yellow shirts and only a couple of days ago he was talking of his desire to play against Ronaldo in the World Cup.

Well, here's your chance Rio. Just one game away, just 90 more minutes of spilling sweat in sweltering heat against Denmark, who are all that stand between England and a potential quarter-final against Brazil. (Picture: Rio Ferdinand: In superb form for England (Allsport))

There was a sense of anti-climax after the goalless draw with Nigeria because the expectation of England finishing Group F as top dogs had looked so inviting. But if hopes were soaring, so was the temperature, to a staggering 34C out on the parched turf of the Osaka Nagai stadium, where climbing the stairs opened the pores and made one breathless. There was no air in there, none of the controlled air-conditioning of the Sapporo Dome, just trapped heat and overwhelming humidity.

It was home from home for the young Nigerians, like a spring day in Lagos. For Europeans, it is exhausting work running around without the ball, and England have to think about that when they measure the merits of meeting Denmark, as opposed to Senegal, another developing African side who thrive on possession.

England's game plan had been to play at a high tempo in the early stages and press for the breakthrough that might have demoralised a side who are on the plane home anyway. But you cannot do that without the ball and getting it back from them was like trying to prise a lollipop from a hungry child. The primary object of the exercise as far as Sven Goran Eriksson was concerned was to ensure England had a secure place in the second round, which was far from certain at the start of play. A draw would do that. So first and foremost caution was essential, especially against a side with counter-attacking pace. That put a burden on the defenders, who had been so heroic against Argentina and who, by and large, were to maintain their stability and concentration against opponents far less cynical, yet with an ability to use their technical ability and natural athleticism to its maximum effect.

The introduction of European coaching skills into African football and the migration of their top players to the European leagues mean that these nations now have a high degree of capability and as they refuelled their bodies from the four or five kilos they lost during the match, the England players might be grateful that it is Sweden meeting an African survivor and not themselves. We shall see. The fact is that England have now shown they have a defensive unit to withstand all types of bombardment. First it was the Scandinavian armada, then the South American onslaught and now the drum-beat rhythm from Africa. They have done it through unity and through the outstanding form being demonstrated by Ferdinand.

The lad whose basic teaching came from the academy of West Ham, but who has been at finishing school with Leeds is now fulfilling his wish to be recognised outside of England and Europe as an outstanding exponent of his trade. He has to forget, briefly, that he wanted to be like Pele and remember that Franz Beckenbauer earned his world renown as a defender capable of bring the ball out of defence. Eriksson said again after the match that if there is a better central defender anywhere in the world, he has escaped his eye. And we all know how diligently our Sven does his homework.