As a football fan it was unbelievable to go through all those emotions, see all those ups and downs in one game. For my brother and myself and West Ham it was disappointing in the end, but I told Anton he could walk away with his head held high because it was such a great final.
At times, European football can be very slow but it speeds up in the final third.
Being dropped was a wake-up call. If I had regarded it as anything else I wouldn't deserve to be anywhere near the England squad.
England always have to leave out a good centre-half at the moment, but it is better to have competition for places.
Four years ago maybe we thought we were inferior to Brazil, subconsciously we didn't see ourselves beating them. Now we believe in ourselves, we can be on the pitch with any team in the world and think we can win.
I didn't expect to be dropped by England.
I set myself high standards on the pitch and I know I have not always lived up to them this season.
I want a new contract. I'm happy at United and I see my future here.
I will be gutted if Roy does go because I would far rather he stayed at Old Trafford.
I've heard people say it looks as if I don't care and I've certainly read that, but the way I play is natural. I don't think I can change it. I know I'm working as hard as the next man, even if it doesn't always look that way.
If any player has a bad game it's there in the back of your mind in the next game. There's always a hangover. It is like a wounded animal in a way, as you want to get out there as quick as possible and rectify it.
If I come out at the right time, the manager says it is okay. But obviously, if I lose the ball that wouldn't be too clever.
If we had a starting XI that no one could argue about it wouldn't say a lot for English football. We'd probably be on a downward spiral. It's good that people have different ideas about who should play.
If you have injuries towards the end of a season in a World Cup year it's going to be difficult no matter who you are.
It is a cliche, but if you took that edge away from Wayne he wouldn't be the same player. I'd rather have the Wayne Rooney we have now than any other.
It was wicked meeting Nelson Mandela.
Most professional players are their own biggest critics. Some of the things you read in the papers that strike you as bang out of order will already have been thought by the players themselves.
No matter how much money you have or what kind of cocoon you live in, the reality is that you have lost a game of football and let England's fans down. We are bothered.
Nobody wants to be associated with failing to qualify for the World Cup finals. I cannot imagine the shame of it.
People think we don't give a toss about the game, but when I walked out of Windsor Park that night I felt lower than a snake's belly. The reality is still there.
There is a hangover from a defeat like Denmark - ask any player about when they've had a bad game, it's still in there somewhere in the back of your mind.
There is a huge responsibility on all of us to get England through. It would be one of the biggest disasters in sports history if we blew it and we must make sure it does not happen.
We don't like the criticism and after the Austria and Poland games we want to be able to go outside with our chests out and our heads held high.
We have players who have played consistently well in big games over the last few years and that should put us in good stead.
We've got to get our house in order first before we look anywhere else. It's imperative we win every game, we've got to remain consistent.
You are always flattered when big clubs are interested in you.
You want to come home from a tournament with a winner's medal. That's not the fans or the media putting us under pressure, that's the pressure we put ourselves under.
Is the cousin of former England striker Les Ferdinand.
Was named after Rio Grande.
His younger brother, Anton Ferdinand, plays for West Ham United, where Rio began his career
Was forced to serve an eight-month playing ban for missing a routine drugs test (January-September 2004), in addition to being fined, by the Football Association
Joined Manchester United from Leeds United for a British record fee of ?29 million in summer 2002
Playing career: West Ham United FC 1996-2001; Leeds United AFC 2001-02; Manchester United FC 2002-
England international footballer (central defender)
Rio supported Liverpool as a boy.
His favorite player was John Barnes.
League Cup Winner 2006.
Together with girlfriend Rebecca, he's expecting his first baby in August 2006.
He played for England in the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups of Soccer.
His first child, Lorenz, was born the 24th of July 2006
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