Crouch fears World Cup axe

Striker hopes to avoid fate of Defoe

Last updated: 6th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Crouch fears World Cup axe

Crouch: World Cup aim

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Peter Crouch is desperate to go to the World Cup with England and avoid the fate suffered by Jermain Defoe in 2006.

Defoe was a regular member of Sven Goran Eriksson's squad prior to the tournament in Germany but was surprisingly left out of the final party in favour of the inexperienced Theo Walcott.

Crouch has been told by his Tottenham team-mate how it felt to miss out and he has no intention of letting the same thing happen to him.

"I don't want to experience that, of course not," he said.

"Jermain was involved in the squad and then didn't go. I know from speaking to him how difficult that was.

"I don't want to suffer that same fate. I want to be on the plane."

Proud

Crouch has an impressive goalscoring record at international level and could get another chance to impress in the upcoming friendly against Brazil.

He is confident he will continue to do well if selected by England but knows he will keep having to prove himself for Spurs over the next few months.

"I always feel if I am given an opportunity I will take it," said the striker. "I have faith in my ability and I have never let anyone down.

"People will have their opinions but I am very proud of my record for England.

"When you look at the ability within the side and the creative players in the team I always feel we will create chances and I can score.

"But we have fantastic forward players and no-one has any given right to play. The manager has options. Hopefully I will be one of them."

"The way the manager is, he wouldn't let on who are his first choices to make the trip to South Africa.

"With that in mind, everyone who is English will be giving their all for their clubs."

No regrets

Crouch has had to be patient at White Hart Lane this season after making a summer move from Portsmouth, with Harry Redknapp preferring to partner Robbie Keane with Defoe.

Other clubs were interested in Crouch as well but he insists there are no regrets about his decision to come to Spurs.

He explained: "I do feel I now have the platform to get the best out of myself.

"I did have options in the summer but Tottenham is a big club, moving in the right direction.

"I have played for the manager before and I know he values me.

"Tottenham can win things and get into Europe. It is a club that I want to be part of for a long time.

"I would like to score the winning goal in the World Cup final as well of course, so I am not asking for much."

Tottenham v Sunderland 1st Goalscorer: Crouch, P. 5/1