Ferdinand impressed by England's young guns and Argentina

By George Burns Jun 14, 2006, 6:22 GMT

Baden-Baden, Germany - Rio Ferdinand believes the young players in the England squad such as teenager Theo Walcott can produce on the big stage if required, even against Argentina, the team that has most impressed the Manchester United defender so far.

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has suffered a barrage of criticism for taking the 17-year-old Walcott, who has yet to play a single game for his club Arsenal in the Premiership, but Ferdinand said the Swede's controversial decision had the full backing of the rest of the squad.

'The players trust in the manager. The manager has seen something in him,' said Ferdinand. 'I saw some of the defenders doing one on one against him. He's very sharp and as quick as they come. He'll be a threat if he comes on against anyone. I'll put money on that he'll scare the life out of a few people.'

Walcott limped out of training on Sunday after taking a kick on the calf from the recuperating Wayne Rooney but has since recovered and is available for selection for Thursday's Group B match against Trinidad and Tobago in Nuremberg.

Ferdinand also praised Tottenham Hotspur's Aaron Lennon, and Stewart Downing of Middlesbrough, who came on as a substitute in the opening 1-0 win over Paraguay, for always being available and willing to take the ball.

'I think that's what we have got in the younger players in the squad. These young boys aren't scared,' he said. 'They want to go on and take the ball and that's a testament to them.'

Although Eriksson has banned his players from discussing the most famous England youngster of them all, 20-year-old Rooney, Ferdinand did mention his United teammate.

'Hopefully, we'll see him on the pitch soon,' he said.

Of the teams that he has seen to date, Ferdinand admitted he was most impressed by Argentina in their opening Group C win over Ivory Coast.

'I think it would be hard not to be impressed with Argentina's performance against Ivory Coast. I saw them as maybe being an outside team. I think (Ivory Coast) are the best team from Africa on the first showing,' he said.

'Argentina played very well against them as a team and along with (Juan Roman) Riquelme pulling the strings. I think we'll see after the group stages who's in and who's out.'