After missing the cut in 2010 and being forced to sit out Euro 2012 through injury, Gary Cahill says he is thrilled to be in Brazil with England as they prepare to face Italy on Saturday.
The Chelsea defender did not make his England debut until the Euro 2012 qualifier against Bulgaria – and although a serious contender for the Finals in Poland and Ukraine, he suffered a cruel twist of fate that forced him to miss out once again.
“I think the last World Cup I was an outside shot, but for the Euros I was one game away and broke my jaw so I was thinking ‘is this not for me?’.
England v Italy
FIFA World Cup Group D
11pm, Saturday 14 June 2014
Arena Amazonia, Manaus
Live on BBC1 from 10.20pm
“I have tried not to think about it because I just think that was a piece of bad luck in my career and I was literally just about to get on the plane and that happened.
“It is my first tournament so I have waited a long time to come here and I was really excited previously. So for me to be involved in this is massive and I have enjoyed it up to now.
“It is not that long ago that I wasn’t in the frame and I was grafting just to get in the squad to just be a part of it and now I feel like I am a big part of it which is pleasing. And I suppose it shows how far I have come, so obviously I'm really happy.”
England flew directly to Rio de Janeiro from Miami following the 0-0 draw against Honduras on Saturday. The team will head to their hotel in downtown Rio, overlooking the São Conrado beach – where they base themselves throughout the tournament.
They will then fly the 1,770 miles to Manaus on Thursday, ahead of Saturday’s game against Italy at the Arena Amazonia – and Cahill says he cannot wait for the first game to get under way, regardless of the calibre of opposition.
“I am looking forward to it like any player looks forward to big games,” he added.
“There are no bigger games or tournaments than this. It is my first tournament so it is new for me but as well as the pressure being there, which is clear, I want to try and go out and enjoy it.
Cahill was part of the starting eleven for the game against Honduras
“When you are enjoying your football I think that is when you play your best football so I just try and prepare the way I do week in week out in the Premier League and looking to enjoy this tournament and give everything I’ve got.”
Despite enduring a frustrating stop-start affair in the final warm-up game against Honduras on Saturday – in which Cahill and central defensive partner Phil Jagielka kept a clean sheet for the second successive game – the Sheffield-born centre-back says England have plenty going forward as well.
“For me one of the worst things when coming up against players is pace,” he continued.
“It is the same for anyone. As well as the quality we have got, pace is dangerous all the time so as a defender it pushes you a few yards back because you can’t afford to be playing a high line against the likes of these lads that we have got in our squad.
“Hopefully it will be a great piece of armour for us heading into this World Cup.”
England take on Italy at 11pm on Saturday 14 June 2014.
The game will be broadcast live on BBC1, with coverage starting at 10.20pm.
