‘It’s unfair’: Ferdinand avoids comparing himself and Terry to current Manchester United ace

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Rio Ferdinand thinks it’s wrong to compare his Manchester United and England partnerships to Harry Maguire’s current one with England.

Speaking on the England YouTube channel, Ferdinand was asked to comment on Maguire’s current collaboration with John Stones.

The two Manchester defenders were reunited for the last group game win over the Czech Republic and are set to start together again tonight against Germany.

It is a combination that served Gareth Southgate very well during the 2018 World Cup and beyond.

It was a blend that was briefly broken up while Maguire recovered from an ankle injury, but Maguire and Stones have been reunited just in time for the Euro 2020 knockout phase.

Great England central-defensive partnerships

England have an illustrious history of great centre-back partnerships, from the days of World Cup winners Bobby Moore and Jack Charlton to Des Walker and Terry Butcher, through to Ferdinand and John Terry.

And the former Red Devils defender feels it’s unreasonable to compare his and Terry’s double act to Stones and Maguire’s alliance.

“I would say they are a partnership that complement each other very well,” said Ferdinand.

“I think it’s hard to compare things like that. It’s unfair on them because they haven’t played enough games together.

“I think the more they play together, you can make that judgment and comparison.”

Maguire and Stones – comfortable on the ball for England

Ferdinand continued to praise the pair, however, and the individual skills that make them work so well together.

He said: “Stones is really comfortable on the ball. To be fair, Maguire is as comfortable if not more at times.

“He brings the ball out, he plays the ball forward more through the lines in an England shirt than John stones does.

“He’s a bit more forceful in his passing. Their styles complement each other.

“What I think Maguire will bring is a bit more of a threat from set pieces. That’s what we’ve lacked (in Euro 2020).”

Maguire and Stones must have their wits about them when Germany travel to Wembley this evening.

Not only because of the opposition’s quality but the fact they might also play with a back three rather than a traditional four.

If England do decide to match Germany’s three at the back, that shouldn’t concern either player. It was the formation Southgate used throughout the last World Cup.