Paul Scholes: 'Ashley Cole omission a mistake'

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has said that England manager Roy Hodgson made a mistake by not including Ashley Cole in his World Cup squad.

Leighton Baines and Luke Shaw were both chosen as the left-backs to travel to Brazil ahead of Cole, who had played for his country 107 times.

Cole announced his international retirement after failing to make the team, but Scholes feels that his experience at major tournaments would have helped England.

"Not bringing Ashley Cole was probably a mistake – not so much for his attacking qualities – but more his defensive ones," he told Paddy Power.

"I think Baines and the whole of the back four have been found out a bit. It's been argued that John Terry could have steadied the ship and taken command – but he's not getting any younger either.

"Ideally what was needed was a young John Terry and a Rio Ferdinand in his prime to marshal the defence."

Cole made his final appearance for England during a 1-0 win over Denmark in March.