England defender Rio Ferdinand insisted his side's team work was more important than individual ability in their World Cup quarter-final clash against Portugal on Saturday.

"I like the importance of the game, the buzz around the game with all eyes on the showpiece. Hopefully, as a team we can do that rather than as individuals, " said the 27-year old central back.

Saturday's quarter-final crunch in Gelsenkirchen is billed as a clash between England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson and opposite number Luiz Felipe Scolari.

England's players, however, do not view the game as their chance to finally sink Scolari.

Ferdinand said: "I won't be thinking about him one bit. He is nothing for me to think about. He's not my manager; he's nothing to do with England.

Scolari's teams have knocked England out of the last two major tournaments and the joke doing the rounds in Germany is that he can keep the Swede if he beats him for a third time.

"I'll have no thoughts about Scolari at all. I just be thinking about England winning the game." added Ferdinand.