Source: FOOTYMAD
Coles to South Africa
Joe Cole in autograph shocker Joe Cole is in the World Cup squad - well he’s managed to get into the 30.The squad will be reduced to 21 on June 1.But if you believed every national newspaper this morning you would have been told that our Joey was not going to make it.Now, here at Chelsea-Mad we tend to do things properly or so I thought. So on Sunday after the 8-0 rout of Wigan, I hung round by the tunnel area hoping to grab a quick word with Joe to find out about his hopes or otherwise for England in the summer.Eventually, Joe popped his head out of the tunnel and started to walk towards the Matthew Harding Stand.Racing after him, just behind a chap from Radio London, Joe stopped to have a quick word - or so I thought.After telling the radio man he will have a chat on air on Wednesday about boxing, Joe looked at me.He looked back at the radio man reiterating he would only talk about boxing on the radio, “nothing else”.My heart sank at this point. My Chelsea-Mad exclusive gone before pen got to paper.But I’m nothing if not determined - so I took the plunge: “Joe, have you got a sec?”At which point Joe looked up and stretched out his hand.With notebook and voice recorder in hand, I suddenly realised that Joe thought I was an autograph hunter.“Er, any chance of a comment about England, Joe?” I asked.“No, sorry, mate,” the reply, not entirely unexpected.“Okay, fair enough - I understand. Well, since I’ve got you can you autograph my press pass?”Good old Joe, he put “Best Wishes, Joe” on it.And off he went.So I did not get my exclusive, but at least I did not make an arse of myself by proclaiming “Joe Cole - World Cup” heartache stories today.I should have mentioned to Joe that I opened the door to allow his missus and baby to get through to the tunnel after the game.Carly said thanks and that she was running late. With Mrs Cole running late for the celebrations, her hubby, following a string of excellent recent performances has made a late dash for South Africa - and quite right too..For the record, Frank Lampard also did not chat, but at least he said he had done too many already. Ashley Cole, despite my best buddy pre-match handshake with him in the press room - gave me a curt “No” when I asked him too.John Terry is the other Chelsea man in the provisional squad while ex-Blues, Scott Parker, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Glen Johnson are included.
