Source: Telegraph
World Cup 2010: Fulham's Bobby Zamora plays down England chances
Indeed, he has already booked his summer holidays to that perennial footballers' haunt of Las Vegas and will not be betting on his chances of going elsewhere. He expects to watch events in South Africa "on the box" as opposed to being in the box, trying to score. [LNB]On Sunday, Zamora and Fulham face a player on whom England are firmly pinning their hopes. Wayne Rooney. And Zamora, unsurprisingly, is a fervent admirer. "He's been brilliant," he said of Rooney's talismanic form this season, something Zamora's Fulham team-mate Paul Konchesky described as "unstoppable". [LNB] Related ArticlesMan Utd v Fulham: previewHodgson: Fulham can turn tie aroundJuventus 3 Fulham 1Juventus v Fulham: match previewSport on television"I suppose Ronaldo going has made him a better player, he's stepped up and been unbelievable," Zamora said. "I just hope that he can continue that into the World Cup because when he's on fire England have every chance of winning it." [LNB]Fulham face Manchester United at Old Trafford. They beat them earlier this season, 3-0 at Craven Cottage with Zamora scoring. But after Thursday night's Europa League defeat away to Juventus, there is a sense that with 46 matches already played, fatigue is starting to catch up with Roy Hodgson's side. "It's been a tough season," Zamora acknowledged. "But also an enjoyable one. We've got United, Juventus, Man City and Tottenham so they are games you definitely do not want to miss. [LNB]"It's hard to play three games in a week but it's what you get for doing well. You play in these tournaments and nobody wants to miss them. It's part of being successful. You see the likes of Frank Lampard, John Terry, Rooney playing week-in, week-out and internationals as well. So, if you want to be the best you have to do exactly what they do and play as many games as you can." Burn-out is the buzzword of the day in a World Cup season. The fear is that Rooney, in particular, will be all played-out come the end of the campaign. [LNB]After all, while Zamora has played 37 matches this season, which started back in July, Rooney has already featured in 43 games. Fulham will be hoping he is rested on Sunday with Zamora also keen, after a season in which the 29 year-old has scored 15 goals in 36 starts and led the line for his team, to reinforce the belief of Spurs manager Harry Redknapp that "this is the best spell of his career". [LNB]"It's nice but it's not something I'm thinking about," Zamora said of England. "What will happen, happens." In truth, it appears highly unlikely, unless there is a string of injuries, that he will be in Fabio Capello's plans although facing another Fabio Juventus's Fabio Cannavaro on Thursday gave Zamora a taste for football at a higher level. [LNB]"He's a clever player," Zamora said of the 36-year-old Italian international who will be in South Africa. "He gets those little fouls and pulls that the referee doesn't see and that's why he's won a World Cup, that's why he's one of the best defenders in the world. But I really enjoyed it and thought I did well against him. I held the ball up well at times and made him work." [LNB]Fulham go into Thursday's second leg of their last-16 match 3-1 down. The away goal, a fortunate, deflected strike by Dickson Etuhu, gives them some hope, as does the fact that they did not capitulate to the team who have been Italian champions 27 times, even though they threatened to run away with the tie in the first half. The odds may be long; but they still have one roll of the dice left. [LNB]
