SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - England defender Jamie Carragher ready to step in for Ledley King if needed

Record ID: 455822

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - England defender Jamie Carragher ready to step in for Ledley King if needed
  • Date: 15th June 2010
  • Summary: PHOKENG, NORTH WEST PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 14, 2010) (REUTERS) DEFENDER JAMIE CARRAGHER ENTERS NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) JAMIE CARRAGHER SAYS: "Yes, I am but I was doing that in the last game as well. You never know what is going to happen, it may be in a warm-up, in training the day before as what happened to Rio. Something of a maybe, some of the defenders in the squad will be prepared and right." WIDE VIEW OF CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) JAMIE CARRAGHER SAYS: "I think we could all name eight or nine of that team, wouldn't we, I mean no major surprises, we all know what the team will be. I think some people in the 23, me included, come knowing that I am not first choice and hoping to get in the team and I think most of the substitutes on the bench expected probably to be on the bench and hoping to play some part in the tournament." ENGLAND BADGE ON WALL (SOUNDBITE) (English) JAMIE CARRAGHER, TALKING ABOUT GOALKEEPER ROBERT GREEN'S ERROR IN THE MATCH AGAINST THE USA, SAYING: "I've seen him this morning and he seems fine. No problem, I mean everyone is talking about his situtation obviously but every player in the squad has been there, when we have made a big mistake in a big game. But the reason you get to play for England when you get to this level is that you have got a certain amount of mental strength, and you don't have that unless you are playing for England in the first place. I am sure he will be fine and the rest of the lads will get around him because as I said we have all been there ourselves" ENGLAND BADGE ON TABLE (SOUNDBITE) (English) JAMIE CARRAGHER SAYS: "Well we will worry about that then, I think we just have to make sure we win the next game, get through the group that's the main thing. If we play them then great, it shows that we are through. I don't think we should look too far ahead but look toward the next game and try to get three points" WIDE VIEW OF MEDIA HALL (SOUNDBITE) (English) JAMIE CARRAGHER SAYS: "When I came on I didn't notice it too much. I think you notice it far more when you are watching, I've watched all the games on TV and I think you notice it a bit more then, but me kids have been on the phone and asked for two so I've got to take two home for them so I've got two in my bag already." END OF NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 30th June 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAF2QKVDKN4G78BZ7HC8WJ2RP3U
  • Story Text: England defender Jamie Carragher says all the defenders are ready to substitute for injured team mates.
    Jamie Carragher, who came on as substitute for defender Ledley King in England's 1-1 draw against the United States last Saturday (June 12), said that he would be ready to step in again if required.
    The Liverpool defender, who answered coach Fabio Capello's call to return to the England squad after he had announced his retirement from international soccer in 2007, may be called upon again for the match against Algeria next Friday (June 18) which King is already expected to miss.
    England have already lost their captain and central defender Rio Ferdinand through injury, so Carragher was asked whether he would be ready to stand in again in England's defence if required.
    "I am, but I was doing that in the last game as well. You never know what is going to happen, it may be in a warm-up, in training the day before as what happened to Rio," he said.
    King reported for training on Monday (June 14) after sustaining a groin injury on Saturday (June 12) halfway through England's opening match with USA. King then left with Ashley Cole and Wayne Rooney for special training in the gym or pool.
    "I think some people in the 23, me included, come knowing that I am not first choice and hoping to get in the team," he said. "I think most of the substitutes on the bench expected probably to be on the bench and hoping to play some part in the tournament."
    Carragher shrugged when asked about Robert Green who fumbled a save in Saturday's match and let in the equaliser from Clint Dempsey.
    "I've seen him this morning and he seems fine," he said. "No problem, I mean everyone is talking about his situation obviously but every player in the squad has been there, when we have made a big mistake in a big game. But the reason you get to play for England when you get to this level is that you have got a certain amount of mental strength, and you don't have that unless you are playing for England in the first place."
    Carragher would not be drawn to speculate about meeting Spain or other fast-paced teams after England's slow-paced match on Saturday.
    "We will worry about that then," he said. "I think we just have to make sure we win the next game, get through the group that's the main thing. If we play them then great, it shows that we are through. I don't think we should look too far ahead but look toward the next game and try to get three points."
    Finally the defender gave vuvuzelas, the noisy South African horns that some have wanted banned, his approval, or at least the approval of his children.
    "I've watched all the games on TV," Carragher said, "I think you notice it a bit more then, but me kids have been on the phone and asked for two so I've got to take two home for them so I've got two in my bag already."
    England's next match is on Friday (June 18) in Cape Town against Algeria.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register