Raheem will have last laugh on critics, says Rio

RIO FERDINAND says that Raheem Sterling is ready to put the criticism he attracts behind him and deliver for England in the World Cup just as he does for Manchester City.

And the former England captain, speaking at the BBC World Cup launch before last week’s criticism from anti-gun campaigners over Sterling’s latest tattoo, says that the animosity Sterling has attracted is not related to race. Ferdinand argues that the exposure during the World Cup brings greater focus on individuals and that Sterling is the latest to feel the heat.

Referring to the seemingly unjustified criticism Sterling received after England’s Euro 2016 campaign, Ferdinand said: ‘There’s always going to be one scapegoat and people then abuse him. What I love about Raheem is that he has thick skin. He’s a hard worker. He’s someone who wants to do well and he’s a learner.

‘And I think we’ve seen that this year. He has been educated by Pep Guardiola, he has taken it all on board and we’re seeing the player we all believed he could be.

‘He had more talent and more ability and he’s being pushed and coached in the right way and he’s flourishing.

‘Can we see that in an England shirt? Is the team going to be set up for the attacking players to flourish?’

But Ferdinand rejected the notion that Sterling had received more criticism because he was black.

‘No, because Becks had it,’ he said. ‘Phil Neville had it. I don’t think it comes down to colour. I think some people just pick on things that happen in a tournament.’

Can Sterling deliver in an England shirt?

‘We’ve had problems, different players not doing that. John Barnes was one. Chris Waddle also got stick for stuff like that. I think in my era Michael Owen and Becks are probably the only players who did as well, if not better, in an England shirt than they did in their club team.’