Source: Liverpool_Echo
I'm sick at missing the World Cup in South Africa - Everton FC's Leighton Baines
Leighton Baines - England 300[LNB]LEIGHTON BAINES has described his bitter disappointment after missing out on the World Cup and denied that homesickness was to blame.[LNB]The Blues defender was one of seven players discarded by Fabio Capello when the England manager had to cut his squad from 30 to 23, and it was his omission which raised the most eyebrows.[LNB]Baines had featured heavily in the run-up to the tournament, prompting some pundits to claim comments about missing home, attributed to Baines, had persuaded Capello to change his mind and select Stephen Warnock instead.[LNB]A below par performance against Mexico in the final warm-up game could not have been timed worse, but the 25-year-old left-back insists he was desperate to stay in South Africa and is trying to be philosophical after the set-back.[LNB] He said: 'I must admit it was a massive disappointment and something of a surprise even though, like most of the lads in the squad, I knew full well that I wasn't guaranteed a place.[LNB]'But we all knew that 30 would become 23 and the seven of us who got the bad news just had to accept the manager's decision. I was feeling low because I knew I hadn't played my best against Mexico and I spoke to a reporter I know about how the game had gone.[LNB]'At the end of the conversation I was asked if I was missing the family while we were away, and I said I was but that it's all part and parcel of being a footballer.[LNB]'I also stressed that the team spirit with England was brilliant and that all the lads helped each other. I'm not embarrassed to admit that being away from the family is difficult at times but I'm not the only player who feels that. It's natural when you've got a young family and you're away from home for long spells so I was shocked when I read some of the reports that later surfaced.
