World Cup

Rio Ferdinand: 'Italy will win England's group'

By Liam Apicella, Features Editor | 08 June 2014

Former England international Rio Ferdinand believes that Italy will finish above the Three Lions in the group stages of the World Cup.

Rio Ferdinand has backed Italy to get the better of both England and Uruguay in their group at the World Cup.

It's widely accepted that those three nations will compete for the two qualifying slots, with Costa Rica expected to finish bottom.

However, of that trio, former England and Manchester United centre-back Ferdinand believes that the Italians have the necessary experience to prosper.

"I expect Italy to win the group. They have vast experience in their ranks. They've got players who have won a World Cup, with Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Pirlo and Daniele De Rossi among them," the 35-year-old wrote in the Daily Mail.

"They've got big-stage temperament and high-class individuals, from Pirlo to Mario Balotelli. They're well organised, always, and England could definitely have had an easier start than a rumble in the jungle in Manaus with the Azzurri."

Meanwhile, if England are to advance along with their European counterparts, Ferdinand has insisted that they must avoid defeat against the Azzurri next Saturday evening.

"A point at least from the opening game is a minimum requirement for England, in my view, or an early exit will beckon. And a point is no gimme," he added.

"So England will almost certainly need to get the better of Uruguay. That can happen, of course it can. It wouldn't surprise me if both sides find the net in that second group game, especially if England have had a positive start. But is it feasible England could get beaten by one or both of Italy and Uruguay? Absolutely."

England have won just two of their previous 11 encounters against Italy.