Source: Team_Talk
Defoe: England passion alive
England striker Jermain Defoe is adamant the national side have not lost their passion and pride, despite a woeful World Cup campaign. [LNB] The Three Lions suffered an early exit in South Africa after they were taken apart 4-1 by Germany in their last-16 game following a disappointing group round. [LNB]But Tottenham forward Defoe, who scored a crucial goal against Slovenia in the final group game which ensured England's passage into the knockout stages, has rejected criticism of the players being overhyped and overpaid. [LNB]"It's not like that, especially for me," Defoe told Sky Sports News. [LNB]"I love playing football. I'm a football fan, I've still got my England flags plastered around my house and all the boys are the same. [LNB]"Everyone is disappointed you can tell. If you look at the players, every game we go into we want to win, even in training. [LNB]"It happens, it's football. But I'll definitely say the passion and the pride has always been there, and will never change."[LNB]Despite England's disappointing campaign, 27-year-old Defoe insists playing for his country at the World Cup fulfilled a boyhood ambition. [LNB]"It's something that I dreamed of as a young kid," he added. [LNB]"All the boys will tell you it's a great experience. Sometimes it's difficult, you go to a World Cup and want to get off to a good start and sometimes that might not happen. [LNB]"If you look at the great nations, a lot of them find it difficult in the games. But the overall experience was great and I really enjoyed it."[LNB]Defoe insists he is happy to see Fabio Capello stay on as England boss and discarded suggestions of antagonism in the camp between the players and management. [LNB]"That's not true. No, not at all," he added. [LNB]"He (Capello) is a great manager, his CV speaks for itself and he's got great ideas. He was just a little bit unlucky I think. [LNB]"On record he's one of the best managers in the world and has been for a number of years, so I can't see why you would want to get rid of someone like that, it doesn't make any sense."[LNB]Defoe is confident England will have produced enough fresh talent to step in for the older players at the next edition of the tournament in 2014. [LNB]"That's normal, that's life. Players get older, that's football," he said. "But I'm sure there's a new, young crop that can come up and play at that level. [LNB]"I think this season coming up will be a big season for a lot of the young players coming through and hopefully they can get in the squad and try and get as many caps as possible from now until the next World Cup."
