England News

• Nickname:Three Lions
• Founded: 1872
• Manager:Roy Hodgson

• Ground:Wembley Stadium
• Capacity:90,000

Green taking nothing for granted

14 Sep 2009 - 11:37:52

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West Ham United goalkeeper Robert Green is refusing to concede that he is the favourite to be England's number one for next summer's World Cup.

Green has seen his stock rise on the back of starting both of England's recent games - the friendly against Slovenia and last week's 5-1 World Cup qualifying rout of Croatia.

The Hammers keeper has benefited from injuries suffered by Portsmouth's David James and Ben Foster from Manchester United.

But Green is refusing to 'count his chickens' ahead of next summer's finals in South Africa.

"I feel I've got to earn my place even more now," said Green. "If you're not playing well, you won't go to the finals. It's all based on form. Selection has nothing to do with reputations or anything like that.

"You've got to earn everything you get, so I'm not taking anything for granted. I know I've played the last few England games but I'm not looking at South Africa and assuming I'll definitely be there.

"I got within touching distance of the last World Cup and got injured in the warm-ups. So I'm not counting my chickens."