Walcott cries and now applies

Winger out to prove his worth after World Cup disappointment

Last updated: 5th August 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Walcott cries and now applies

Walcott: Raring to go

You can't be happy when you are not there. I always want to be there, no matter what happens. Actually, I did have a tear to be fair with my cousin and my mate. Then I played the best golf ever.

Theo Walcott
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England winger Theo Walcott has admitted he cried following his shock World Cup omission - but he is now gunning to prove his worth this season.

The Arsenal speedster was the surprise omission from Fabio Capello's World Cup squad, taking the fateful call from the England boss while playing golf with a friend and his cousin on a day off.

While obviously disappointed to have missed out - although Capello's side then hardly covered themselves in glory in South Africa - Walcott is determined to bounce back this term.

And the wideman believes he can turn his World Cup heartache to his advantage after having had a proper rest this summer.

The 21-year-old told Arsenal's official website: "He (Capello) just said, 'I'm sorry. I'm not going to bring you to South Africa, but I'll see you in 2012 for the Euros'.

Good break

"I didn't know what to say at all. He said, 'have a good break and good luck. I'll see you soon'. I wished him all the best.

"There are always disappointments in football, this was my biggest one yet.

"Obviously I was disappointed but I wanted the lads to do well because I am an England fan as well. I said 'good luck' and that was it."

He added: "I will always respect the manager's decision. If the boss at Arsenal leaves me out of a game, I am always disappointed and I show that. You can't be happy when you are not there. I always want to be there, no matter what happens.

"Actually, I did have a tear to be fair with my cousin and my mate. Then I played the best golf ever."

Walcott started only 12 Premier League games last year after a series of injuries and he is gunning for a better season this term.

Very disappointed

He added: "I was obviously very disappointed not to have made it, but now for the first time in a long time, I have been able to have a rest and a proper pre-season.

"The full pre-season will definitely help. It was an on-off season last season and it's difficult to come back from that. I would just get back and I'd get another injury.

"I was in double figures last season with injuries. Maybe last year I was thinking about it too much and I was being a bit too timid in games because I was thinking about injury.

"This year I'm just going to get out there and show people what I can do. It's all I can do really."