England Watch – Jermain Defoe
Wednesday, 29 Nov 2006 18:21
Spurs striker Jermain Defoe in action
Jermain Defoe was arguably the most high-profile omission from the last World Cup squad under Sven-Goran Eriksson and it was his place on the plane to Germany that made Arsenal teenager Theo Walcott a household name.
As England struggled with a lack of firepower, a lack of a cutting edge and then a lack of personnel to even appear on the pitch at the 2006 tournament, Defoe's name was one of the first to be uttered by embittered England fans as they watched their team hobble out of the World Cup on penalties after a 0-0 quarter-final draw with Portugal.
Strange to think that the diminutive Tottenham striker would be so sorely missed by fans who had seen him rarely given a run in the national side and only hit the net once for England before the summer of 2006. So how likely is he to feature in four years' time?
Name: Jermain Defoe
Position: Striker
Club: Tottenham Hotspur
Age by South Africa 2010: 27
Standing only 5ft, 7ins tall, Jermain Defoe has never been the most imposing of strikers. He has hardly grown since his days as a scholar on the books at Charlton Athletic but has still managed to make his mark in one of the world's toughest domestic leagues.
Defoe first exploded onto the scene at West Ham United. He was given his chance in the first team after impressing while out on loan to Bournemouth in the old Second Division, where he scored in ten consecutive league games – still an English professional record.
After playing 93 league games for the Hammers, scoring 29 goals, Defoe controversially jumped ship at Upton Park in favour of bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur soon after the east London club were relegated from the Premiership in 2003. In the space of a few months, Defoe went from a firm Hammers favourite to a vilified hate figure after appearing to desert his local club when they needed him most.
His career at Tottenham started in the best possible way with a goal on his debut at White Hart Lane against Portsmouth in February 2004. This followed an unhappy spell in the second tier of English football, where he appeared disillusioned and unsettled, although the elevation back into the top division was an instant tonic.
Defoe is still a much-loved figure at the Lane, even though he has had fewer opportunities this season due to stiff competition up front. The summer signings of Dimitar Berbatov and the permanent acquisition of former loanee Mido have forced Defoe to play more of a supporting role and restricted his appearances. Nevertheless, with injuries blighting England's front line in late summer, Defoe was given a rare opportunity wearing the Three Lions and didn't disappoint, scoring twice in a 5-0 win over Andorra.
Still, Defoe remains something of a peripheral figure at international level, even when in form for his club. He frequently disappoints in an England shirt, although many of his supporters claim this is a direct result of the nature of his appearances, as he rarely plays anywhere near a full game.
If the pocket rocket is to stake a claim for a place in the 2010 squad then he will need to force his way into the England coach's plans, although this may be easier said than done if he continues to warm the bench in a mid-table Tottenham side.
England's 2010 World Cup squad
*Players in bold – tickets to South Africa booked already
Goalkeepers
Paul Robinson
Possibles:
Chris Kirkland,
Ben Foster,
Rob Green,
Scott Carson
Defenders
John Terry,
Ashley Cole,
Rio Ferdinand,
Jamie Carragher
Possibles:
Glen Johnson,
Joleon Lescott,
Micah Richards,
Ledley King,
Michael Dawson,
Anton Ferdinand,
Leighton Baines,
Justin Hoyte,
Curtis Davies,
Wes Brown,
Phil Bardsley,
Michael Mancienne
Midfielders
Steven Gerrard,
Frank Lampard,
Owen Hargreaves,
Joe Cole,
Michael Carrick
Possibles:
Aaron Lennon,
Tom Huddlestone,
Nigel Reo-Coker,
Lee Cattermole,
Shaun Wright-Phillips,
Stewart Downing,
Giles Barnes,
James Morrison,
Kieran Richardson
Forwards
Wayne Rooney,
Michael Owen
Possibles:
David Nugent,
Theo Walcott,
James Vaughan,
Gabriel Agbonlahor,
Jermain Defoe,
Peter Crouch,
Darren Bent,
Dean Ashton,
Cameron Jerome