Merk my words, Rio and England can't go wrong in Euro qualifiers

By Derek McGovern in Betting Blog

Published 22:30 08/02/10

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The John Terry fall-out has shielded Rio Ferdinand from the question that should have been asked the moment Fabio Capello anointed him new skipper.

Namely, when will Fabio ring and tell him "you've been merked"?

This is the man handed the armband while banned for using his arm. This is the man plagued by the worst back since Quasi. This is the man whose memory is so bad that in training yesterday he put his boots on the wrong feet and then couldn't remember whose feet he'd put them on.

Ferdinand is 1-5 with Hills to be skipper for England's World Cup opener against the USA, odds that suggest it's done and dusted. But I reckon this market still has legs and, for once where the national captain is concerned, they ain't necessarily akimbo.

Steven Gerrard is second favourite at 6-1 but I hear he doesn't fancy the responsibilities that come with it - like incessant interviews and regular rousting of team-mates. The more you look at it, the more Wayne Rooney looks the man to back at 8-1.

Ferdinand is 4-9 favourite with Hills to be skipper for the first match of the 2012 European Championship qualifiers.

England have been drawn in the dreariest group since The Bachelors , with Switzerland, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Wales playing the part of byes.

England fans will be fretting over how easy the travelling will be, England coach Capello over how easy the fixtures will be, and England fall-guy Terry over how easy the women will be. Terry is reported to have told friends he has never bedded a Bulgarian babe. This is because there isn't one.

England are 1-2 favourites to top their group and 33-1 to win both the 2010 World Cup and 2012 Euros. I thought that was the height of optimism until I noticed the 10-1 quote for Wales to finish above England.

The Republic of Ireland have drawn largely the whipping boys of Europe, countries to you wouldn't contemplate going to on holiday, at least until this recession.

They've got Russia, Slovakia, Macedonia, Armenia and Andorra. There's every chance the Republic can cover themselves in glory and a better chance they'll cover themselves in furry coats. The Republic are 13-8 with Ladbrokes to qualify.

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