• World Cup

Joe Cole not worried ahead of squad cull

Joe Cole was one of England's better performers during their 2-1 warm-up win over Japan © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Capello prepares to axe seven from World Cup squad
  
• News: Capello set to stay as England manager until 2012
  
• News: Joe Cole favourite to grab England squad place
  
• News: Capello admits he knows his final 23 players
  

Joe Cole is reminding himself that football is "just a game" as he nervously waits to hear whether he has made Fabio Capello's 23-man World Cup squad.

Capello is set to name his final selection on Tuesday and Cole is suspected to be one of the players fighting for the last available ticket to South Africa after the England manager revealed he has already chosen 22 players in his mind. Cole did his case no harm by coming off the bench to set up England's equaliser as they came from behind to defeat Japan 2-1 in their final warm-up international in Graz on Sunday.

But he said: "You've got to put football into perspective otherwise it will drive you mad because there is so much importance put on it. At the end of the day it is only a game of football. Constantly you have to have that perspective as a footballer because there is so much pressure and importance put on whether you win a game of football. I find it is good as a person to do that a lot. What will be will be, but the main thing is it will be great for the country and the people to have a great World Cup and go and win it.

"What will I do on Tuesday (when Capello reveals his final squad)? I don't know. I've never been in this position. I don't know. It is a funny atmosphere. There is nothing you can do. We've done everything we can do, we've trained hard, everyone has had an excellent week's training and that's all you can do. I'll wake up on Tuesday, have my breakfast and there we go.

"Do I have any nerves? You've got to be pragmatic about it. I came here 10 days ago to try and enjoy my time back here, train well, and it's in the manager's hands about the squad. There are a lot of players who will be hoping, a lot of players have got a good case. But, whatever happens, we are all right behind England and hopefully this will be our time.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.