Zamora admits he had to call time on WCup hopes

Fulham striker Bobby Zamora has revealed he told England coach Fabio Capello not to select him for his provisional World Cup squad because he is set for surgery on an Achilles injury.

Capello had been planning to name Zamora in his 30-man group for a pre-World Cup training camp in Austria and friendlies against Mexico and Japan.

But Zamora has been struggling with injury for the last month and could only play for 55 minutes of his club’s Europa League final defeat against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.

The former Tottenham and West Ham star, who has scored 19 goals this season, needs an operation in the close-season and he admitted he would not have been able to shine for England if Capello had handed him a surprise call-up.

“I told Fabio that I was struggling and I knew that had I have gone I wouldn’t have done myself or England justice,” Zamora said.

“The World Cup is a massive tournament. It’s not about myself, it’s about England. He wished me all the best and hoped that I get fit and would be there next season.

“That’s football, it’s a cruel game. And we’ve seen how cruel it can be again here with losing this final in the last couple of minutes.”

Zamora admitted the injury had left him feeling down even though he has been having the best season of his career just a year after being written off by fans and pundits.

“It’s been a bit depressing, not being able to train and just struggling. The injury could not have come at a worse time,” Zamora said.

“It’s been an extremely disappointing season in that respect. But it’s also been so pleasing with the way it has gone. It has been amazing. It’s been a success, I suppose.

“I was out there in the final to prove a lot of people wrong. Last year, because I only scored a few goals, everyone just looked at the goals and didn’t look at the bigger picture. But I knew the goals would come, it was just a matter of time.”