IN CONTROL ... Jermain Defoe gears up for action
in Doha
CROCKED keeper Craig Gordon has blasted Jermain Defoe
for the reckless challenge that broke the Sunderland star's
arm.
Scot Gordon, 26, is out for at least two months after
the sickening clash with the Spurs striker in Saturday's 2-0 defeat
at White Hart Lane.
He said: "I thought at the time it was a poor challenge
- and after looking at it again I haven't changed my mind.
"It's always dangerous diving down at the feet of
strikers but I feel Jermain might have done more to avoid the
collision."
In fact, the Spurs and England striker reckons his
mother, Sandra, is as scary as Fabio Capello.
Defoe's mum was so angry after his red card for
blatantly stamping on Portsmouth's Aaron Mokoena last month she
could not watch the TV highlights.
And Defoe admits it was not something England boss
Capello wanted to see either because he has demanded his players
stay disciplined.
The Tottenham hitman, 27, said: "My mum is my toughest
critic.
"I called her after the game and she asked me what I
did. I said 'Watch it on Match of the Day'.
"But she said she didn't want to because she'd give me
a mouthful.
"I'm glad she didn't see it. My grandad did, though,
and gave me a bit of stick. Your family are the ones who were there
at the beginning and gave me the support and belief to achieve what
I've achieved today.
"It's how they view you that's the most important
thing.
"My Spurs boss Harry Redknapp wasn't happy and, of
course, I worried what the England manager might think.
"It's a World Cup year so you want to try and do
everything right. I don't want to let myself down.
"I'd worked hard, got my goal and you don't want to
spoil it by getting sent off doing silly things like that when you
can avoid those situations.
"The England manager doesn't want to see players
getting sent off. He's told us one of the most important things is
to keep 11 players on the pitch.
"He wants 11 players coming off at the end of the
game.
"At this level, you can't afford to be a man down. You
just can't.
"And we're role models. You don't want kids doing
things like that, emulating what they've seen on TV."
So what came over Defoe?
He added: "Maybe it happened because I was going back
to my old club and getting a bit of stick.
"Maybe I was just too fired up before the game.
"It was out of character. I don't even get booked any
more, I try not to get involved or talk to the referee.
"It's frustration and you can't afford that, especially
in a massive tournament like the World Cup finals.
"Going down to 10 men, you give the other team the
advantage and you could lose the game.
"You'd let your team-mates down, your country down,
plus the manager and the staff. Some people say it's important to
have that fire in your belly but you've got to control it and be
professional.
"Players will try and wind you up. That's normal, so
you've got to try and keep cool.
"It's difficult, everyone loses it, but I'm old enough
to keep myself cool. I know what's right and wrong. It definitely
won't happen again."
Defoe is back in the England reckoning for the friendly
against Brazil here in Doha tomorrow having missed the last two
internationals against Ukraine and Belarus with a couple of broken
fingers.
His mum had an opinion on that, too.
Defoe said: "I was getting a bit of stick off my mum,
who was saying 'You can't miss a game with a broken finger'. But it
wasn't right. I only played one game, 20 minutes against Bolton and
I forced it, really. I should have rested for three weeks.
"I wasn't too worried that it would affect my England
chances, though.
"I've always told myself to stay positive, keep working
hard and getting your goals for your club. Hopefully, that will
then get you in the squad."
Italian World Cup winner Dino Zoff has backed fellow
countryman Capello to take England to glory in South Africa next
year.
Zoff, who lifted the coveted trophy in 1982, was born
just down the road from Capello near Fruili and played 112 times
for Italy in a career spanning 15 years between 1968 and 1983.
The former keeper, 67, said: "The World Cup is
Capello's.
"Fabio has proved himself to be a great catch for
England and I really believe he can take them all the way to
success. The only problem they will have is tiredness as they will
be coming from a long season in the Premier League and it is tough
- but with Capello they have a winner.
"Italy have great potential but repeating their win of
2006 will be very difficult, though I think they will make the
final four.
"What if Francesco Totti and Alessandro Nesta came
back?
"Well, it would be different because Marcello Lippi
would be able to call upon two valuable players who could help take
the team to the next level.
"As for Argentina, I do not think they will go far and
they could encounter difficulties.
"But I believe Brazil will always be there because of
their tradition and players."