SWP craves World Cup place

City winger out to banish memories of omission from Germany finals

By Elliot Ball   Last updated: 12th May 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

SWP craves World Cup place

Wright-Phillips: South Africa hope

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Shaun Wright-Phillips is desperate to banish the heartache of 2006 by going to the World Cup with England.

The Manchester City winger was named in Fabio Capello's provisional 30-man squad on Tuesday and now has to prove his place over the next month in order to book his seat on the plane to South Africa.

Wright-Phillips, who missed out on the Three Lions cut four years ago in Germany, admits he will rate making Capello's final squad as one of the greatest achievements in his career.

"It would be a dream come true to be in the squad for South Africa and to help England go as far as possible," he said in the Daily Express. "To pull on an England shirt on such a big stage would be a real highlight.

"Of course, it was a huge disappointment not to go last time, it's always been an ambition of mine to play in a World Cup. I've just got to keep my head down and work hard to make it happen."

Competition

Wright-Phillips will be vying with the likes of James Milner, Theo Walcott, Aaron Lennon and City team-mate Adam Johnson for a place in Capello's 23.

And the 28-year-old, who scored in England's last friendly against Egypt, believes the competition for places is exactly what the Three Lions need to go to South Africa in top form.

He added: "There is a lot of competition and that means everyone has to raise his game, which is only good and positive for the country.

"Whoever eventually goes to the World Cup will hopefully be on fire and that is exactly what we need from players once they are in South Africa. Brazil and Spain will be the favourites but a lot of teams will be worried about us."