"I didn't expect to be dropped by England"

In this quote, Rio Ferdinand reveals his surprise and dissatisfaction at being dropped from the England national football team. As an expert footballer, representing his country is a fantastic honor and accomplishment, and being dropped from the team can be seen as an obstacle or failure. Ferdinand's usage of the word "anticipate" suggests that he had high hopes and confidence in his abilities to continue playing for England. However, the truth of being dropped has actually captured him off guard and he might be feeling a sense of shock or confusion. This quote highlights the psychological impact that being dropped from a team can have on a player.