SVEN Goran Eriksson has refused to push the panic button over England's slack defending, but admitted Rio Ferdinand slumped last season. Ferdinand's central defensive partnership with Sol Campbell was the bedrock of England's World Cup campaign as Eriksson's team conceded just three goals in five games. But the defensive problems that surfaced against Slovakia last June showed no signs of being cured in the win over Croatia as John Terry suffered an uncomfortable first start alongside the sluggish Ferdinand. With barely two weeks before the testing trip to Macedonia, it demonstrated the need for Campbell to conquer his concerns that he is being unfairly targeted by the FA and return to harness with the Manchester United man. Eriksson, though, insisted he was not unduly concerned about the way the space behind Ashley Cole was exploited for the second game running and the lapses that should have been punished. He said: "I'm not worried about the defence. When it is a real game we nearly always defend very well. Remember the World Cup? We were one of the best teams defending." In the World Cup, of course, that defence was drilled by Steve McClaren, who left his part-time role last October and whose role has not really been replaced. Eriksson added: "Against Croatia we defended badly in the last 20 to 25 minutes of the first half. For the rest I think we did okay." Ferdinand's poor form over the past year since his £30million move to Old Trafford has not gone unnoticed, even from Eriksson. The Swede added: "I saw Rio in Cardiff in the Community Shield and he was excellent. "During the practices he did with us he was much, much better than last season and I'm sure he will have a great, great season. "I think he has no problems with injuries any more and I'm optimistic about him. I don't think he has to have Sol alongside him to be good." It does seem, though, that Campbell's physical presence and quietly-spoken defensive leadership keeps Ferdinand more focused. In the 10 competitive games they have played together for Eriksson, England have conceded just six goals. They have let in the same number in just six games without them as a pair. Eriksson, meanwhile, dismissed the suggestion that Paul Scholes' international goal drought could endanger his automatic place in the England team. Scholes has now gone 23 games and more than two years since his last England goal, in Greece in June 2001, while Frank Lampard's stunning first international goal summed up his quantum leap forward. Eriksson said: "Frank Lampard is growing as a footballer. He's getting better and better, stronger and stronger and scored a marvellous goal. He did very well when he came on. But I would be very surprised if I dropped Paul. I've never had a problem with him. I know he can play better than he did against Croatia but it was a friendly and he's Paul Scholes, he's very important. "It doesn't concern me at all that he's not scored for two years. He scored a lot for Manchester United last year." ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits for Your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark Printer at Myinks.com. Free s/h on orders $50 or more to the US & Canada. http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5511 http://us.click.yahoo.com/l.m7sD/LIdGAA/qnsNAA/tsUolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> *************************************** Reply to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe from the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
