World Cup

Rio Ferdinand: 'World Cup exit a wake-up call'

By Simon Sinclair, Reporter | 22 June 2014

Former England defender Rio Ferdinand believes that changes are needed in the English game if the Three Lions are to compete in international tournaments in the future.

Rio Ferdinand has expressed his belief that the English game needs to undergo a drastic to reform following England's early exit from the World Cup.

The Three Lions were eliminated at the group stage for the first time since 1958 after playing just two games in the tournament, both of which ended in defeat to Italy and Uruguay.

Ferdinand is adamant that changes need to be made to the set-up in England in order for them to compete in international competitions in the future.

He wrote in his column in the Daily Mail: "Enough is enough. England's embarrassing early exit from the World Cup needs to be a wake-up call that something is fundamentally wrong in our national game and it needs fixing or we'll be also-rans for ever.

"To say that we are now a laughing stock is not right, but only because our major rivals didn't start this World Cup genuinely fearing England. England crashing out is not a surprise to them, or to be honest with ourselves, to us."

England face Costa Rica in their final World Cup match on Tuesday.