AFTER a dressing down from Sven-Goran Eriksson for a comical penalty miss, Peter Crouch has reassured England supporters he will not be trying that trick again, writes Paul Fraser.
Having already scored two in the rout of Jamaica on Saturday, Crouch was afforded responsibility of taking a spot-kick for his hat-trick after Newcastle's Michael Owen had earned the penalty.
But instead of picking his spot, the forward's attempt to chip the ball over the line ended with a miss some five yards over the bar.
With the possibility of a penalty shoot-out in this month's World Cup finals, he infuriated Eriksson who would have liked to have seen him practice his penalty.
"I got caught up in the moment, it was just over-confidence," explained Crouch. "I don't think I'll be trying anything like that again. Thankfully I got another chance for the hat-trick and I stuck that one away.
"That was a big relief because I'd have felt pretty bad if I'd missed out on a hat-trick because of a stupid penalty."
The third goal arrived in the last minute. Middlesbrough's Stewart Downing fed Owen and the Magpies striker one-timed into the path of Crouch.
He then side-footed powerfully into goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts' bottom left for his third.
"I'm really pleased with the hat-trick, delighted in fact," said Crouch, who has been told he will start against Paraguay in England's opening game on Saturday.
"It was important we went out on the right note and it couldn't have gone any better for us. I think all the lads looked sharp and that bodes well for Germany.
"You can tell there is a World Cup, the whole country is buzzing and so are the players. There was a fantastic atmosphere at Old Trafford and it was the perfect way to prepare.
"I feel good, I definitely feel as a confident as I ever have done. I feel as though I belong in the England set up and things are going very well for me at the moment. I've had some stick from England fans in the past, but thankfully I've come through the other side."
The England squad travel to their Baden Baden base this afternoon and Tottenham's teenage winger Aaron Lennon, who replaced David Beckham on Saturday for his first cap, is still pinching himself that he is involved.
"I'm still trying to come to terms with the fact I'm here, part of the England squad," he said.
"I wasn't even in the Tottenham side at the start of the season so it has all happened very quickly.
"I wouldn't say I'm in the squad to put pressure on David Beckham, he's one of our best players and the captain, so I'd say I'm here to provide cover for him. All I can do is prepare as well as I can and make sure that if an opportunity to come on arrives - like Saturday - I'm ready for it."
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