Michael Dawson labels football "crazy game" after joining up with England
Michael Dawson(credit:
Wikipedia)
Michael Dawson labelled football a “crazy game” after answering England coach Fabio Capello’s "S.O.S." call.
The Tottenham defender was one of seven players cut by Capello earlier this week when the Italian confirmed his 23-man squad for the World Cup.
But just hours after publicly admitting his disappointment at failing to make the squad, Dawson was asked to fly out to South Africa following an injury to captain Rio Ferdinand.
Dawson told Tottenham’s official website: “It’s a crazy game and things can change in a split second.
“One minute I’m trying to arrange my holiday, then I get a call asking if I was on holiday because Rio had pulled out of training.
“I said ‘no’ and then I was just waiting by the phone before getting a call saying I would be picked up in an hour.”
Despite Ferdinand’s loss being his gain, Dawson feels desperately for the Manchester United man.
“For Rio to get injured, there would be no worse feeling for him as a player. To miss the biggest tournament in the world as captain, I feel for him.
“I missed the League Cup final in 2008, there was nothing anyone could have said to me that could have made me feel any better.
“For Rio, the feeling will be the same, but it’s a chance for me now.”
Dawson is 14/1 with Coral to start alongside John Terry in England’s World Cup opener against the United States. Spurs team-mate Ledley King is 5/4 favourite, with Matthew Upson 6/4, Jamie Carragher 4/1 and any other player 40/1.
William Hill are offering 10/1 on Dawson starting, while King is 1/5 favourite (10/3 not to start). Upson and Carragher are both 9/2.