Ferdinand feels 'cursed'

Rio Ferdinand admits he feels cursed after the England captain was ruled out of the World Cup with a knee ligament injury.

Ferdinand's World Cup is over before a ball has even been kicked in the tournament as a result of the left knee damage he suffered in a training session tackle with Emile Heskey on Friday.

The Manchester United defender was on crutches as he left a hospital in Rustenburg after scans showed he would be out for six weeks.

Ferdinand's place in the squad has been taken by Tottenham defender Michael Dawson, who joined up with the squad at their training base yesterday.

The 31-year-old had arrived in South Africa finally fit after an injury-ravaged campaign restricted him to just 13 Premier League games for United. But now he is condemned to follow England's bid for World Cup glory from the sidelines as Steven Gerrard takes over the captain's armband.

His agent Pini Zahavi told The Sun: "Rio said: 'I think somebody cursed me.' That is honestly how he feels.

"Rio is very down. He cannot understand why this has happened to him. This injury has nothing to do with the ones he had before. It is completely different and it is very bad luck.

"Rio was feeling sharp and was ready for the World Cup. He has waited so long for this tournament and to try and help England win it. He had prepared himself so well.

"But he is a very strong man and he will be back. I'm sure he will be leading England in four years time at the next World Cup."

England coach Fabio Capello admitted Ferdinand's injury made for a terrible start to the World Cup campaign.

"It's the curse of being captain. It was a tackle and then there was big pain. He (Ferdinand) put his feet in the grass with Heskey and then he moved," Capello said.

"The other players were upset. They stopped training. All the players who are here with me are important. But he is one of the starting players, the captain, a leader.

"It couldn't have been much worse on my first day. We have to pray 'help us'. No more."