England coach Roy Hodgson was shocked to learn that Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand would be working in Qatar this weekend.

Despite meeting with Ferdinand on Sunday ahead of the defender withdrawing from the squad, the Daily Mail says there was no mention of the pre-planned Al Jazeera commitments.

Ferdinand's slim selection chances aren't helped by Hodgson having no prior knowledge of Rio doing TV punditry in Doha - having withdrawn from the squad to manage his back problem, until it was revealed on Thursday in the Daily Mail.