2010 FIFA World Cup: For Bobby Zamora, Games Will Be Watched from the Cruel Sofa

The beautiful game? Not for Bobby Zamora. He says: “Football? It’s a cruel, cruel game.”

And you can’t blame the Fulham striker for hurting. A late, late goal in Hamburg saw his club beaten 2-1 by Atletico Madrid as the first-ever Europa League final went to extra-time.

And any hopes of an extended season with England in South Africa have been shattered by a nagging Achilles tendon injury.

Zamora played in Hamburg on Wednesday night knowing he faces summer surgery. “I was desperate to play in the final, I’d worked all season for it,” he said afterwards, “The decision will be made over the next day or two but the operation is pencilled in for a week's time."

Though the 29-year-old had been promised a place in the provisional World Cup squad of 30 by England boss Fabio Capello, the former Brighton, Spurs, and West Ham striker admits: “That's football, it's a cruel game. I knew I wouldn't have done myself or England justice had I gone. It was a joint decision between myself, Capello, Fulham's medical team, and England's medical team.

“Fabio wished me all the best, hoped that I get fit and would be available next season. It's one of those things. The last five weeks have been terrible for me.

"It's been an up and down season because it's been so good on the pitch and I've scored some important goals. To now pick up this injury has kicked me in the teeth. It's come during the last couple of weeks and when there was the possibility of going to the World Cup with England.”

It’s not as if England don’t have enough injury worries. Just today, Chelsea captain John Terry announced himself ready to play in the FA Cup final against Portsmouth on Saturday after injuring a foot in training. But that doesn’t mean he’ll be okay for England’s training camp in Austria next week.

And after David Beckham’s introductory Achilles tendon, there’s Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry’s ankle and just about every part of Wayne Rooney to worry about.

Aaron Lennon, Ashley Cole, and Glen Johnson are all recovering from injury too. Captain Rio Ferdinand appears to be one big injury, playing just 12 League games for Manchester United this season. And Tottenham's Ledley King has the most famous dodgy knees in football.

Zamora, to his credit, didn’t want to add to the Capello headaches. He said: “The World Cup is a massive tournament. It's not about myself, it's about England.”

For Zamora, the beautiful game will be watched from the cruel sofa.