Dawson arrives at England camp to replace injured captain
June 5th, 2010 - 9:55 pm ICT by IANSJohannesburg, June 5 (DPA) Tottenham defender Michael Dawson arrived in the England World Cup camp in South Africa Saturday as a replacement for injured captain Rio Ferdinand, saying he was ready to “take his chance”.
The 26-year-old was planning to go on holiday when he received the call Friday after Ferdinand suffered knee ligament damage in a training session.
“It’s a crazy game and things can change in a split second,” said Dawson, who missed out on a place in Fabio Capello’s original 23-man squad.
“One minute I’m trying to arrange my holiday, then I get a call asking if I was on holiday because Rio had pulled out of training.
“I said no and then I was just waiting by the phone before getting a call saying I would be picked up in an hour. It’s been a crazy day.
Dawson, who enjoyed a superb season as Tottenham finished fourth in the English Premier League, said he had huge sympathy for Ferdinand but that he would be working hard to get in the side for England’s first match, against the United States, on June 12.
“For Rio to get injured, there would be no worse feeling for him as a player,” Dawson said. “To miss the biggest tournament in the world as the captain, I feel for him.
“I missed the Carling Cup final in 2008 and there was nothing anyone could have said to me that could have made me feel any better. For Rio, the feeling will be the same, but it’s a chance for me now.
“I’ve not had time to think about it but I’ve had call after call with people wishing me good luck.
“I know all the lads through having been with them for two weeks so I’ll just be going out there and training as normal.
“I was planning to watch the first game of the tournament with my friends and family, but now I’m going to be there for real.
“I’ll be going out there still having not yet won a senior cap, so where better place to get one if that was to happen. But I’ll just go there and train like I do every day at Spurs and we’ll have to see what happens.
“It’s great to have four other Spurs lads out there as well.”
Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard will captain England at the World Cup in Ferdinand’s absence.
- Dawson still in a daze over Ferdinand replacement for World Cup - Jun 05, 2010
- I'm cursed, says disappointed Rio Ferdinand - Jun 06, 2010
- Emile not to blame for my injury, says Ferdinand - Jun 08, 2010
- Parker to captain England against Holland - Feb 29, 2012
- Tottenham tried but failed to sign Man U's Ferdinand: Redknapp - Apr 11, 2011
- Roy Hodgson to take over as England soccer manager - May 02, 2012
- I'm cursed, says 'shattered' Ferdinand - Jun 05, 2010
- Beckenbauer's taunts will come back to bite him: Ferdinand - Jun 26, 2010
- Fabio betrays Ferdinand, says Terry will regain captain's armband - Mar 15, 2011
- Ferdinand hopes to shut out heartbreaks of last 3 WC campaigns in final foray - Jun 03, 2010
- Groin injury forces Leadley King out of World Cup - Jun 14, 2010
- King confident his knees can take World Cup challenge - Jun 06, 2010
- Ferdinand 'gutted' after England's 2018 World Cup bid loss - Dec 03, 2010
- Ferdinand vows to never quit on England after getting captain's job back - Oct 12, 2010
- Footballers' association demands Blatter's resignation on racism comments - Nov 17, 2011
Tags: carling cup, crazy day, crazy game, england camp, england world cup, english premier league, fabio capello, first game, good luck, johannesburg, knee ligament damage, lads, man squad, match, michael dawson, rio ferdinand, spurs, training session, waiting by the phone, world cup camp