Michael Dawson: I'm in the dark over World Cup snub

03 June 2010 22:39
  Michael Dawson had just finished lunch in a restaurant in Loughton, Essex, with Tom Huddlestone on Tuesday when an unknown number flashed up on his mobile. It was Fabio Capello with the news the Tottenham centre half had been dreading.[LNB] 'When the phone started ringing my legs turned to jelly,' said Dawson. 'I didn't know it was him because I didn't have his number saved. Basically he said, "It's Mr Capello here and unfortunately you won't be on the plane". He told me to keep doing what I'm doing and that he will be watching me for the Euros.[LNB] Team spirit: Michael Dawson shares a joke alongside Matthew Upson on the England bench[LNB] 'Tom got his call five or 10 minutes after me. Mr Capello was obviously going round all the lads who hadn't made it. Then I got a text from Darren Bent asking if we were in. It was strange.'[LNB] There was no further explanation from the England manager as to why 26-year-old Dawson had been omitted from his final 23-man World Cup squad. Nor was he told why he had not been selected for the two warm-up games against Mexico or Japan. He did not ask, either. Capello is not that sort of manager.[LNB] Ball boy: Dawson will have to be content with the FIFA World Cup video game[LNB] 'I wouldn't say I would phone up and ask him for advice,' said Dawson, who was promoting EA Sports' 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa video game. 'But he's the manager and you've got to respect his decisions.'[LNB]He added: 'You can't describe the feeling when you get the call to sayyou're not going to South Africa. But it wasn't to be and the squadthat have gone are world-class and I wish them all the best.'[LNB]EA SPORTS 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa is available now on all formats (PS3, Xbox 360, Wii and PSP) - www.fifaworld-cup. easports.com[LNB] WORLD CUP 2010: England touch down in South Africa as armed security greet Wayne Rooney and co'No regrets' Rio tells team-mates to return as World Cup winners[LNB] [LNB]  

Source: Daily_Mail