Manchester United Club Focus - Ferdinand England exclusion to benefit United

Rio Ferdinand

As England's Euro 2012 squad was put through its paces for the first time under Roy Hodgson, Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand was thousands of miles away in Thailand, possibly at the end of his international career.

It was a bold decision to leave out the experienced defender, who acknowledged his disappointment at the situation. It seems that his falling out with John Terry over the alleged racial abuse of his brother Anton has cost Ferdinand his place at Euro 2012 and the chance to add to his 81 caps, although Hodgson insists the decision was purely a football one.

The controversial move to drop the Manchester United centre back may have been aimed at keeping peace within the squad. However there will surely still be divisions thanks to the Ferdinand-shaped hole that will exist in Poland and Ukraine. The best way of avoiding dissension would arguably have been omitting Terry. The Chelsea captain should be considered innocent until proven guilty, but Ferdinand can only be considered innocent in this situation.

Ronaldo bemused by Ferdinand omission

Ronaldo and Ferdinand

Cristiano Ronaldo believes England coach Roy Hodgson has made a fundamental error by not including Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand in his squad for Euro 2012.

Ferdinand was the headline omission when Hodgson announced his 23 players last week, with the former West Brom manager instead favouring John Terry amid suggestions of a strained relationship between the pair.

Terry will make a court appearance shortly after the European Championships accused of racially abusing Ferdinand's brother and Queens Park Rangers defender Anton - an allegation the Chelsea captain denies.

Hodgson has dismissed claims that this had any influence over his though process when selecting his squad, and attributed his decision to omit Ferdinand to purely footballing reasons.