Italian Practical Joking Had Defoe on Edge

June 2nd, 2010 | by: Rob |

defoe So more fallout from the announcement of the 23 we’re taking to South Africa, apparently the Italian management had plenty of laughs breaking the news to the squad. Indeed when Jermaine Defoe picked up his phone at midday yesterday (rumours were already flying round like mad by then mind) the first thing he heard was England assistant manager Franco Baldini. tell him he had bad news.

Defoe missed out on a place at the World Cup in 2006 (Theo Walcott was the surprise inclusion that took his place that time) so you can imagine he probably did believe Baldini was telling him that he would not be on that plane to South Africa.

Hilariously though, Fabio’s number two was just larking around.

“The call came at around midday so it felt like such a long wait. I was so nervous. He started with, ‘I’m really sorry, I’m afraid it’s bad news.’
“Then he says, ‘You can’t go on your holidays because you’ve got to go to South Africa.’”

Oddly, I can’t imagine Fabio Capello doing the same thing. Still its probably worked wonders for Defoe who will now train out of his skin believing he only just made it to the World Cup. And I imagine Baldini would be a fan of our irreverent humour here on the England World Cup Blog, no?

England Football Team World Cup Blog RSS Feed

Gary Glitter

He has been given the number 22 shirt, so is unlikely to play anyway!
http://england.worldcupblog.org/ Matilda

But would he be a fan of our irrelevant humour?
http://juventus.theoffside.com alessio

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704366504575278893868082062.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Trizia

England world cup Squad numbers have been confirmed as:
1. Green
2. Johnson
3. A Cole
4. Barry
5. Ferdinand
6. Terry
7. J Cole
8. Lampard
9. Crouch
10. Rooney
11. Gerrard
12. James
13. Hart
14. Carragher
15. King
16. Milner
17. Carrick
18. Heskey
19. Lennon
20. Upson
21. Warnock
22. Defoe
23. Wright-Phillip
Fredo

To post pics and videos : http://www.mixin.com/users/worldcup_england
paul

Where have you seen these squad numbers? Cannot find them anywhere
Rob

Alessio – That’s interesting but there has to be a first. Right? And if anyone can be the first it must be Capello.
Johnny b BAD

I’m beginning to sound like a broken record, but damned if I don’t love that starting 11 (judging by squad numbers).
tjm

1. David James
2. Glen Johnson
3. Ashley Cole
4. Steven Gerrard
5. Rio Ferdinand (capt.)
6. John Terry
7. Aaron Lennon
8. Frank Lampard
9. Peter Crouch
10. Wayne Rooney
11. Joe Cole
12. Robert Green
13. Stephen Warnock
14. Gareth Barry
15. Matthew Upson
16. James Milner
17. Shaun Wright-Phillips
18. Jamie Carragher
19. Jermain Defoe
20. Ledley King
21. Emile Heskey
22. Michael Carrick
23. Joe Hart

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2010/article-1283509/England-World-Cup-squad-numbers-revealed-David-James-wear-No-1.html#ixzz0pkNN8f9x
Johnny b BAD

I don’t like that 2nd list.
steve cole

squad numbers mean diddly squat,look at barrys number i bet if he is fit he will play,and i expect green to be number one keeper.
jeffo

HAIL GERMANY!