Post by Taxigirl on Jan 5, 2004 10:05:29 GMT
England captain David Beckham does not believe former Manchester United team-mate Rio Ferdinand will be tempted to quit international football due to a drugs ban.
Ferdinand has been hit with an eight-month suspension by The Football Association for his failure to attend a drugs test last September.
The centre half's ban was due to start on Monday January 12 but the appeals process will ensure that is delayed.
If the Red Devils stopper is unable to reduce his punishment on appeal, he will be forced out of England's Euro 2004 challenge.
His likely absence from the tournament in Portugal has prompted suggestions Ferdinand will consider retiring from the international arena.
But Real Madrid midfielder Beckham is confident his England colleague will decide to continue representing his nation once he has served his sentence.
Beckham has praised Ferdinand's mentality and feels English football's record signing could eventually assume his mantle as the national team's skipper.
"I don't think Rio would quit England," Beckham told The Sun. "I just don't think he would do that.
"I have no doubts that Rio will respond in the right way.
"I have known him for a long time, even before he was at United. I knew him when he was at West Ham and even then I recognised how strong he was.
"It will make him stronger once he has come through all of this.
"It won't stop him becoming a future England captain. I have no doubt he will come back from this but I am not going to give up being national skipper easily!"