England wait on Rio fitness - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

England wait on Rio fitness

England are awaiting a verdict on Rio Ferdinand's fitness ahead of the World Cup qualifier with Croatia in Zagreb.

The Manchester United defender was due to be assessed by the England medical staff as he battles to overcome the neck problem that kept him out of the 2-0 victory over Andorra.

Joleon Lescott filled the breach against the part-timers but the experienced Ferdinand would be a major loss if unable to face Slaven Bilic's side.

England are continuing their preparations in Spain before flying out to Zagreb on Tuesday ahead of a game they cannot afford to lose even at this early stage of the qualifying campaign.

Coach Fabio Capello was mulling over whether to add Joe Cole - the two goal hero against Andorra - and David Beckham to the starting line-up after both were on the substitute's bench at the weekend.

Sport in brief in Pictures

Don't Miss
The Glamour Awards - stars turn on the style

Glamour Awards

Stars turn on the style
Duchess of Cambridge is pretty in pink at her first Buckingham Palace garden party

Garden party

Duchess of Cambridge is pretty in pink
FIRST review of Ridley Scott's latest sci-fi blockbuster Prometheus

First review

Is Ridley Scott's Prometheus any good?
Fair-weather goths

Fair-weather goths

The sultry shades of summer darks are coming out of the shadows
London gets ready for the Diamond Jubilee - in pictures

Diamond Jubilee

London gets ready - in pictures
Dog save the Queen: Corgis surge in popularity

Dog save the Queen

Corgis surge in popularity
'He’s a better ex than he was a husband', says Boris Johnson's ex wife

A better ex than husband

We talk to Boris Johnson's ex wife
TV Baftas - in pictures

Best of the Baftas

Stars on the red, white and blue carpet
You big softie: Has Giles Coren put down his poison pen?

You big softie

Has Giles Coren put down his poison pen?
Pop star Paloma Faith, former Labour minister and Tory blogger back gay marriage video

Gay marriage

Pop star, former Labour minister and Tory blogger back gay marriage video