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Updated Thursday June 1, 2000 Reaction: Ferdinand wishes England well By Matt Barlow
Rio Ferdinand has swallowed the bitter pill of England rejection and wished his colleagues all the best for Euro 2000.
Kevin Keegan takes his final 22 to Malta to prepare for the European Championship but those left out face a summer watching the summer tournament from home.
Ferdinand said: 'I'm obviously disappointed but good luck to the boys. The gaffer has his own opinion and his is the one that's important so I just have to go back to West Ham and go on working hard.'
Andy Cole, David James, Kieron Dyer were left out of the squad announced by Keegan, with Jamie Redknapp and Ray Parlour forced to withdraw from contention because of injury.
Nick Barmby was one of the players on the fringes of Keegan's squad who did make the cut. And the Everton midfielder insisted: 'Everybody is thinking
positively, hopefully we can go one better than in Euro 96.
'I also want to thank (Everton manager) Walter Smith, he's been fantastic to me this year and has given me a lot of confidence. But so then has this manager (Keegan). I've only been working here a week and I have really enjoyed working under him.
'They are a good bunch of lads and the team atmosphere is really good,' he said.
Keegan has shown real faith in youth with Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard, who made his debut, desperate to impress in the Championship. 'I wanted to show I can play at this level, which I think I have done,' he said.
'I was a bit gutted that I missed the Argentina and Brazil games with little niggles, but it was great to play tonight and get a taste of it.
'About a year ago I was looking forward to getting into the Under 21s so to be in the first team set-up is unbelievable.'
ENGLAND 22:
David Seaman
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RELATED: Keegan: Cole was not fit to go to Finals Cole left out, so he packs bags Phillips' fears prove to be unjustified England 2-0 Ukraine: Fowler repays faith Old warhorse may yet be back for a last gallop |
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