29 May 2006
VIDEO: Rio Ferdinand press conference

Click here to watch Rio Ferdinand's press conference as The Three Lions continue their World Cup preparations.
Rio Ferdinand insists England's games against Hungary and Jamaica at Old Trafford are absolutely crucial for the team's World Cup chances.

A buzz is going round the squad as they prepare for the two friendly fixtures which are the last before the big kick-off against Paraguay in Frankfurt on 10 June.

And Manchester United star Rio believes it is crucial that every single player treats the games as serious completive matches.

He wants England's defence to be one of the best in the tournament when the World Cup kicks off, and that means getting it right in advance.

He said: "I think for a set of players at their clubs individually we have fantastic defenders, some of the best in the world. But it's about bringing it together as a squad and a team and doing it for England.

"We have two games to do that, and whoever is given the opportunity we have to make sure we go out there and become a cohesive unit and work well together. That will put us in good stead for the World Cup and that's why these games are important."

Rio believes every player in the squad will give his utmost against the Hungarians on Tuesday, and with Head Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson promising a strong stating line-up it should be quite a game.

Rio said: "You can't go in half-heartedly thinking about the World Cup and thinking 'I don't want to be injured, I'm not going to put my foot in' because you're going to get hurt like that. This is the time for us to do it on the pitch and get a bit of unity together.

"We have got a lot of players who are very good players in our squad, in fact we have got exceptional players, but it's about bringing that together as an England team and that's going to be the difference between winning it and not winning it.

"Of course there is a buzz about the squad right now. We get the World Cup diaries and wall charts and see who can play who in the tournament just like everyone else - because we're fans first and foremost. We don't change in that respect, we're like everyone else, we're excited."