Ferdinand has enough unhappy experiences of the tournament already, having been left out of Kevin Keegan's squad for the ill-fated Euro 2000 finals campaign, then being banned four years later in the aftermath of his missed drugs test.

Understandably, the Manchester United defender is eager to avoid a miserable Euro hat-trick, although that would be the gloomy scenario awaiting him if England fail to muster positive results against Israel and Russia at Wembley over the next week.

Steve McClaren's men currently lie fourth in Group E, two places behind Saturday's opponents Israel.

And, with Frank Lampard, David Beckham and Wayne Rooney definitely out, plus major fitness doubts surrounding Steven Gerrard and Owen Hargreaves, the position is hardly encouraging.

Yet Ferdinand is confident England will eventually reach Austria and Switzerland next summer and is refusing to even think about the alternative.

"I cannot even contemplate not qualifying," he said.

"If, God forbid, we failed, it would be a catastrophe; a massive disappointment for us, the fans and the country as a whole.

"But we have four of our last five games at home, so we couldn't ask to be in a better position and we have a great opportunity in front of us."

Yet, while England are only two games into life at the new Wembley, they have yet to record a win, albeit in meetings against heavyweight duo Brazil and Germany.

The home fans are still to be convinced about the merits of manager McClaren or his team. And while the boos which accompanied the final whistle of the defeat to Germany last month were nowhere near to the unprecedented levels of abuse McClaren suffered in Barcelona last March, they do suggest an undercurrent of dissatisfaction if England do not start positively against a notoriously obdurate Israel outfit on Saturday.

"The fans pay their money to get through the doors, so they can show their frustrations in any way they want," said Ferdinand.

"But we do need them behind us on Saturday, so it is up to us to play the football to get them there."

McClaren is approaching make-or-break time in his double decision over the fitness of Hargreaves and Gerrard.

At the present time, Gerrard appears more likely to play than Hargreaves, who was forced to have a scan on a thigh injury after he felt a twinge at the start of training on Wednesday.

McClaren has reported the damage not to be too extensive and remains optimistic the £17million former Bayern Munich star will be available.

"It is only a small problem and we are hoping it will clear," said McClaren.

"Owen is certainly not ruled out of Saturday."

Still, having one of your key men sitting out training for most of the week is hardly ideal, even if that further dose of bad news was at least balanced by the growing belief Gerrard will get by without the need for a pain-killing injection in the toe he broke in Toulouse last month.

"We will continue to assess Steven closely and stay in regular contact with the medical staff at Liverpool before making any decision as to whether he will play," confirmed McClaren.

Until Hargreaves limped away from the action yesterday, the debate over whether Gerrard should be given a jab to get him through the Israel game had dominated the build-up.

McClaren's stated position is that he would do nothing to put Gerrard's long-term health at risk, while offering a strong hint he did not believe a needle was a danger.

Ferdinand can testify to that, given he required injections to overcome a rib problem towards the end of last season.

"A lot of players have had injections," he said.

"I had them for a few months last season. If the medical people say it is OK, you go with that and I am sure that is how Steve will be guided as well."

At the end of his unscheduled medical bulletin, McClaren reiterated his belief that, no matter who made his eventual starting line-up, England had enough talent to win.

Some may argue otherwise. But not Ferdinand, who accepts he is part of a "so-called" golden generation of English players that are running out of time to make a mark on the international stage.

"What has happened to me before definitely gives me extra motivation," he said.

"I have been to a few World Cups, and enjoyed the occasions, and I really really want to do something in the European Championships.

"This is a time when we really need to put our stamp on things.

"Clearly, we need to qualify first but it is an opportunity for this generation of players to hold our heads up high and say we achieved something with England."