Defensive Duo ruled out of England matches

Dmac

Defensive Duo ruled out of England matches

Defensive duo Rio Ferdinand and Michael Dawson have been forced to pull out of the England squad to face Brazil and Estonia because of groin injuries.

Full England squad to face Brazil and Estonia:

Goalkeepers: Robinson (Tottenham), Carson (Liverpool), Green (West Ham).

Defenders: P Neville (Everton), Terry (Chelsea), Bridge (Chelsea), Brown (Man Utd), Carragher (Liverpool), King (Tottenham), Shorey (Reading).

Midfielders: Beckham (Real Madrid), Gerrard (Liverpool), Jenas (Tottenham), J Cole (Chelsea), Bentley (Blackburn), Carrick (Man Utd), Lampard (Chelsea), Downing (Middlesbrough), Dyer (Newcastle).

Forwards: Crouch (Liverpool), Owen (Newcastle), Smith (Man Utd), Defoe (Tottenham).

Credit - BBC Sport

Meh we still have a fair amount of players to cover, it shouldn't matter to much. Ferdinand doesn't strike me as best choice any more anyway and Dawson is just backup.

Tyler Durden

Carragher has been pushing for automatic selection ahead of Rio anyway, so he'll get his chance now.

Right back and a lack of firepower (if the Owen comeback doesn't take off) are my main worries. Estonia would celebrate a draw if they could hold us there, and just one point in that game would be yet another setback for us in qualifying.

Dmac

I would pick Carra over Rio any day of the week.