Ferdinand fumes at key moment

Ferdinand: Rued disallowed goal

Rio Ferdinand insists England would have been in pole position to reach the last eight of the World Cup had Frank Lampard's 'goal' stood.

The injured Three Lions skipper echoed the thoughts of an entire nation as he watched his side crash out of the tournament to the old enemy in controversial fashion.

Germany cruised to a 4-1 victory in Bloemfontein and inflicted England's heaviest defeat in their World Cup history.

But Joachim Low's side were fortunate to say the least as Lampard's 38th minute shot hit the underside of the crossbar and landed a good yard over the line, only for the goal not to be given by the Uruguayan officials.

And Ferdinand, who was ruled out on the eve of the South Africa event with a knee injury, argued Fabio Capello's side were denied a legitimate goal which would have given them momentum heading into the second-half.

Bananas

"If Lamps' goal had stood it would have been 2-2 and then the game would've turned on its head," said the Manchester United defender in The Sun. "We'd have been at full throttle. I'm sure we'd have gone on to win it.

"I was sitting here with my mates and we were all screaming at the TV along with everyone else in the pubs going bananas. I'm a professional footballer but I'm also a fan so I know what it's like.

"Your emotions get a grip of you and you think 'How's he not seen it?'

"It wasn't like a counter-attack or something, he was up there with the run of play. He has to be able to see that."

Ferdinand admitted he could sympathise with the fans' anger at England's timid exit from the competition.

The relationship between the squad and their followers hit the headlines earlier in the competition when misfiring striker Wayne Rooney was caught on camera criticising the booing supporters following the 0-0 draw with Algeria.

Ferdinand, however, was more conciliatory than his Red Devils team-mate on the Three Lions faithful.

Under-performed

"I understand fans' anger," said the 31-year-old. "People pay good money to go and watch football. If people are angry you can't knock that. They pay their hard-earned money to watch us all over the world so that's part and parcel of it.

"When you look at the names on our team-sheet, you'd have to say that not getting to the latter stages of the tournament that you've under-achieved.

"To look at it as an under-achievement, given the players we've got to choose from, is a fair point."

Ferdinand defended the man who made him England captain, albeit only after John Terry's personal indiscretions, and backed Capello to bounce back from the current calls for his head.

"I believe he's the man to take us to being a successful team. His track record is nothing to be sniffed at," he said.

"We've got the utmost respect for this manager. I've enjoyed every moment being around this manager. From the way he coaches to his professionalism, his experience - you can only learn from people like that."