英格蘭隊主教練埃裏克松認為，與德國“足球皇帝”弗朗茨.貝肯鮑爾相比，英格蘭隊主力中衛裏奧.費迪南德是一名“純粹的”後衛。

　　貝肯鮑爾一直被認為是有史以來最優秀的後衛之一。而埃裏克松認為英格蘭隊也有自己的“皇帝”，他就是曼聯隊後衛費迪南德。

　　“裏奧是你能找到的最優秀的中後衛。他擁有一切：速度，頭球，搶斷，還有技術。我很滿意他現在的狀態。”埃裏克松説道。

　　“我很滿意到目前為止費迪南德在代表英格蘭的比賽中只領到過一張黃牌。他沒做過足夠的搶斷？你看看貝肯鮑爾，他的膝蓋永遠都是乾淨的。

　　主教練的這些評論在費迪南德聽來無疑十分悅耳。他因為藥檢不合格而錯過了2004年的歐洲盃足球賽。而他去年曾經長期狀態低迷，甚至失去了在英格蘭隊的主力位置。 現在，主教練埃裏克松認為費迪南德已經完全成長為了世界巨星。

　　“裏奧已經徹底成熟了。當我把他放在替補席上時，他沒有一點抱怨。我讓他證明我的做法是錯誤的。他同意了，而且他也做到了。”

　　“上屆世界盃的時候，費迪南德和坎貝爾一起被認為是世界最佳中衛組合。四年過去了，費迪南德依然站在世界巔峰，並且向著更高的地方邁進。”

　　鏈結：http://home.skysports.com/worldcup/article.aspx?hlid=396608&CPID=4&clid=114&lid=13&title=Sven:+Rio+is+our+Kaiser

　　原文：England manager Sven Goran Eriksson feels Rio Ferdinand is the complete defender - comparing him favourably with German legend Franz Beckenbauer.

　　Beckenbauer is rightly regarded as one of the greatest defenders of all time, but Eriksson feels they have a 'Kaiser' of their own in the guise of Manchester United star Ferdinand.

　　Eriksson feels Ferdinand has all the tools required for a top-class stopper and believes he has improved in the last four years.

　　"Rio is the most elegant central defender you can find," said Eriksson.

　　"He has everything. He is quick, a good header, good tackler and has great technique. I'm very happy with the way he is playing at the moment.

　　"It is incredible he has only ever collected one yellow card for England.

　　"Franz Beckenbauer never got his knees dirty," he added when questioned on whether Ferdinand made enough tackles.

　　The comments are sure to be music to the ears of Ferdinand, who did not make the squad for Euro 2004 after missing a drugs test.

　　Ferdinand has also battled back from a dip in form last year, which led to him losing his England place, and Eriksson feels he has now matured into a defender most international managers would love to have in their squads.

　　"Rio has woken up, I think," said the England boss. "When I put him on the bench he deserved that but he never complained, he accepted it. He wasn't playing very well.

　　"I don't know exactly the words I said to him, but it was something like 'You have to convince me that I'm wrong'. He said he would - and I was sure he would.

　　"When he doesn't play well, he can only be injured or not concentrating. If he is not injured and concentrating, he is one of the best.

　　"In the last World Cup, Rio and Sol Campbell were considered the best central defensive pair in the world. Rio is still on that level and is maybe even better today."

　　作者-寧江亮--北京外國語大學英語

責編：佟杉杉