Sol Campbell has guarded Rio Ferdinand's determination to withdraw from the England team, and feels the Manchester United opponent still has an international future. Ferdinand, 34, was contained in Roy Hodgson's group for the Planet Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Montenegro, but withdrew to check out a pre-planned exercise routine built to help him manage his long-standing straight back dilemmas. Ferdinand was extensively criticised for his withdrawal, and he received further flak when he flew to Doha to become a pundit on Al Jazeera's coverage of the San Marino installation. But former England, Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle defense Campbell has jumped to the defense of his former team-mate. He said: "I know what Rio is certainly going through since a lot does be taken by international football out of you. "If you've a way of playing, a regime and a regime then playing for your country takes a much more energy. "If you're in a routine and happy with that and then you're seeking to play still another game it may be demanding on the body. "Playing for England can put a lot of demands on your own body. And you then have to get back and play for your team. "If you've maybe not put that in to your routine and no-one has told you that they are considering putting you in a month before then it's hard to put it in." And Campbell does not believe the present furore represents the end of Ferdinand's England career. "He (Rio) said he would love to be engaged in the next one," he added. "It is a important moment for England and Manchester United so it's a difficult for him to choose. It is actual. Global basketball and the travelling is challenging. "People need certainly to work it out and speak. I think it was only a surprise to Rio since he was considering, 'Well, I have not got a chance and then all of a with a few accidents he had a chance.' It absolutely was surprising." Campbell was speaking after seeing Wales train in front of their World Cup qualifier with Croatia, included in completing his teaching badges. He said: "Watching Wales practice is all the main learning process. "I am doing my N licence and I complete around June time and then I will start my A badge. "I will know in 3 years time if instruction is something for me personally in the long-term."
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