RIO Ferdinand today defended himself and his England World Cup colleagues against criticism from his controversial Manchester United team-mate Roy Keane.

Former Republic of Ireland captain Keane pinpointed England's apparent gratitude at swapping shirts after their quarter-final defeat by Brazil in Japan last summer as symptomatic of a team who were satisfied to settle for a last-eight showing.

Ferdinand came by two shirts belonging to the subsequent World Cup winners - those of Rivaldo and Roberto Carlos.

He has since given them to his younger brother - and insists they are in no way a worthwhile consolation for defeat.

Keane did not even make it on to the pitch in Japan and South Korea. He left his team's training camp after a high-profile disagreement with manager Mick McCarthy.

Ferdinand believes he and England on the other hand had a good campaign.

He told The Sun: "I thought we did reasonably well at the World Cup. But, having got so far, going out was hard to take.

"Nobody was more upset by what happened than the players - and a Brazil shirt as a memento does not make up for it, I can assure you.

"If Roy says such things it is not a problem to me. He says what he feels and I like that in a player.

"He impresses me because he is very honest and says things as he sees them. It is just on this occasion I do not agree with him."