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VANCOUVER, B.C. - As England Manager Roy Hodgson's 23-man World Cup squad was revealed earlier this week, a noticeable English MLS star was absent from the group of players headed to Brazil next month. Jermain Defoe was named to the standby list, but that is of little consolation because barring a significant injury he is expected to miss the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Defoe and his Toronto FC teammates trained in Vancouver on Tuesday prior to the second leg of the Amway Canadian Championship series with the Whitecaps on Wednesday night. The former Tottenham Hotspurs striker was visibly gutted and at a loss for words when talking about his exclusion from the 23-man England roster.
"Obviously I was shocked, like you can imagine,” Defoe said. “Especially when you've been involved with every squad and then for some reason you're not included. But (I) always remain positive and just continue to do what I'm doing. I've come over here and done exactly what I used to do at home, and that's play well and score goals."
Jermain Defoe has scored 19 goals in 55 caps for England but he has become forgotten man across the pond. When Defoe moved to Toronto FC earlier this year, many pundits, supporters and so-called experts quickly dashed away any thoughts of him making the England World Cup squad. Major League Soccer might as well be played on Mars because many concur that Defoe's exclusion is based on his move to MLS. The 31-year-old quickly disagreed with that notion.
"No, because I've been here two months,” Defoe said. “Does it really change much? I don't think so. I think the fact that me being here two months, that shouldn't play a factor at all."
This was most likely Defoe's last chance to outright make an England world cup squad. He will be thirty-five when the 2018 World Cup kicks-off in Russia. Ashley Cole didn't react well to being snubbed by England and he subsequently hung up his international boots. Defoe insists that he won't be quitting on England anytime soon. Whenever England comes calling, Jermain Defoe reckons that he will be ready to put on the three lions kit and represent England.
"I'm not going to retire just because someone doesn't put me on a squad, I'll never do that,” Defoe explained. “I'm not turning my back on my country because I still feel like I've got a lot to offer. Obviously I want to go to the World Cup, but I think my record speaks for itself and I'll just try to continue to work hard and enjoy my football."
The Beckton, England native had a brilliant debut to his MLS career as he scored a brace in a 2-1 Toronto FC victory over the Seattle Sounders at CenturyLink Field on March 14. Defoe followed that match with a goal in his home debut as Toronto FC defeated DC United 1-0. Defoe would play only one more match in March before a hamstring injury got the better of him and sidelined him the entire month of April.
It's almost ironic that Jermain Defoe will now have to rely on an injury to Wayne Rooney, Rickie Lambert, Daniel Sturridge, or Danny Welbeck if he is to be bumped up to the England 23-man roster. For now Defoe sends his best regards to the players who will be playing for England in Brazil.
"It's still a long way to go,” Defoe said. “You never know what happens, people get injured, but at the same time if it doesn't happen, then it doesn't happen. I wish the team good luck and all the young players in the squad good luck because I've had that experience, been to a World Cup and it's the best thing ever. It's special."
The White Hart Lane favourite would offer Hodgson's youthful squad a vast amount of experience, leadership and knowledge that one requires when entering a major competition. Football has not passed Jermain Defoe by, but it appears the English national team favours a new generation of players that doesn't include the Toronto FC striker.
Notes: Jermain Defoe will not join up with the England camp based in Miami, Florida next week.
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