Source: Team_Talk
Zamora keen to grab England chance
obby Zamora always felt he was good enough to follow in the footsteps of his schoolboy team-mates by one day making the England team.[LNB] Zamora was on the verge of making the World Cup squad following a superb season for Europa League finalists Fulham, only to see his dreams dashed by an Achilles injury which needed surgery.[LNB]The 29-year-old former Brighton, Tottenham and West Ham striker could finally end his long wait for full international honours on Wednesday after being called up to Fabio Capello's much-changed squad for the friendly against Hungary at Wembley.[LNB]As a youngster, Zamora played for the Senrab club in east London, in a team which included the likes of Terry, King and Paul Konchesky, who have all since represented the senior side.[LNB]"It is funny because I grew up playing with John Terry, Ledley King, Paul Konchesky and a lot of other good players," said Zamora, who signed for Bristol Rovers as a trainee in August 1999.[LNB]"They have all gone on to play for England and, in my eyes, there was no major difference between us.[LNB]"I never reached the stage where I thought I was never going to make it. If you don't get picked, you don't get picked, and all you can do is to carry on with your normal game.[LNB]"I am not a deep thinker about these things, but now an opportunity's come along I want to grab it with both hands."[LNB]Zamora had the opportunity to represent Trinidad & Tobago, via his father, and even went as far as obtaining the relevant documentation ahead of the World Cup qualifiers.[LNB]However, fate again dealt the striker a tough hand.[LNB]"If things had worked out differently I could have played for them, but I had pretty much the same injuries - Achilles and back - which ruled me out," said Zamora, who earlier this week celebrated the birth of twin girls Gisele and Siena.[LNB]"At the time it looked like my only option if I wanted to play international football, but that door has closed and this one has opened.[LNB]"The Hungary match is a chance for me to impress and that is what I am going to try and do."[LNB]With the retirement of Aston Villa striker Emile Heskey, there would appear to be a vacancy in the England attack to supplement the tenacity of Wayne Rooney.[LNB]West Ham forward Carlton Cole is another option for Capello, but Zamora - who netted 21 goals last season, nine of them in Europe - believes he can certainly add something to the frontline.[LNB]"I have been lucky enough to play alongside Teddy Sheringham at West Ham. Teddy wasn't the quickest, wasn't the strongest, but was intelligent and knew exactly what to do," he said.[LNB]"I learned a lot from him at West Ham and he is probably one of the lads that I have looked up to."[LNB]Zamora admits the decision to opt for summer surgery to clear up his injury was the "toughest decision I have ever had to make."[LNB]However, the pragmatic striker accepted: "But that's life, that's football. You pick up the knocks and if you can't play, you can't play.[LNB]"For the last month of the season I struggled when I should not really have played.[LNB]"I was having injections before the game which lasted for maybe half an hour, so possibly going to the World Cup and not being able to train doesn't really make sense.[LNB]"I would not be doing myself justice and I would not be doing the country justice.[LNB]"I would only let myself down and in that sense it was a no-brainer."[LNB]Zamora, though, feels he is worthy of full international recognition.[LNB]"I am all right at pretty much most things, but I like having the ball up to me and bringing people into play," he said.[LNB]"If we can get in and around the edge of the box, I like to set people up for shots.[LNB]"I have progressed over the last few years and that is all I can keep doing, trying to improve and hopefully the pinnacle is playing for England."
