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TORONTO -- A "devastated" Jermain Defoe will be watching the World Cup from afar, barring an injury call-up from England. The 31-year-old Toronto FC forward did not make Englands main 23-man squad which features Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Welbeck and Rickie Lambert at forward. Instead the Major League Soccer star was one of two strikers named to Englands seven-man standby list. Defoe said he felt sharp, was scoring goals and thought he had done enough to make the team. He added he had also been looking forward to representing his country in Brazil. "You cant expect anything but I did feel like I had a good chance of going because Ive been in most of the squads if not all the squads," he told BBC Radio. "So to miss out, I dont know, I just feel devastated to be honest," he added. Asked by the BBC if coming to Toronto was a mistake, Defoe said "Not at all." On a personal level, Defoe said it was difficult. But he wished the England team the best of luck. Toronto manager Ryan Nelsen said Defoe will remain with the MLS club unless summoned by England. "I was a bit surprised and disappointed for Jermain because he arguably deserves it," Nelsen said from Vancouver, where Toronto plays the Whitecaps in the second leg of their Amway Canadian Championship semifinal Wednesday. "Its a shame for him. But hes on the standby (squad) and you never know." Torontos practice was closed Monday. "Of course hes disappointed. Anybody would be," said Nelsen. "But theres nothing you can really say when a situation like that happens. Thats the managers decision. So hes just got to keep scoring goals, keep fit and maybe he gets that call-up." Toronto will be losing Brazil goalie Julio Cesar and U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley to the soccer showcase. Bradley will play for Toronto on Wednesday and then join the American camp. Cesar is expected to leave Toronto after the weekend game against the New York Red Bulls. Age and geography probably played against Defoe in his bid to go to Brazil. The first-team England strike force has combined for 51 international goals and 124 caps in Rooney (38 goals, 89 caps), Sturridge (3, 10), Welbeck (8, 21) and Lambert (2, 4). Manager Roy Hodgson also has attacking options in midfield in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Adam Lallana, Ross Barkley and Raheem Stirling, among others. "Certainly once you move into that front six position, I think we have a lot of options. I think theres a lot of possibilities," Hodgson told a news conference Monday in London. "A lot of players can play in different positions. And Id like to think thats that a very exciting group we have for those front six positions." Defoe, a veteran of the 2010 World Cup who has 19 goals and 55 caps with England, had figured in all but two of Hodgsons matchday squads before this. But Defoe, who has three goals in four MLS games, may not have been helped by playing overseas. According to Opta Sports, only four of the 114 players chosen for Englands last five World Cup squads played for non-English teams (Calgary-born Owen Hargreaves twice, David Beckham and Fraser Forster). Hargreaves played for Germans Bayern Munich, Beckham for the Los Angeles Galaxy of MLS and Fraser for Glasgow Celtic. "Jermain Defoes international career could be over," the Daily Telegraph said after the squad announcement. Veteran fullback Ashley Cole, a 33-year-old fullback with 107 caps, announced his international retirement Sunday. Hodgson had opted for veteran Leighton Baines and 18-year-old Luke Shaw over Cole. Monday was the deadline for teams to provide FIFA with their 30-man provisional squads. The final 23-man squads must be declared by June 2. Injuries could still change the face of the England squad with Defoe and West Hams Andy Carroll selected as cover for up front. The England squad heads to Portugal next week to begin World Cup preparations, before playing Peru at Wembley on May 30. Nelsen, who captained New Zealand at the 2010 World Cup, has been torn about Defoe and the World Cup. While backing his players skills on the international stage, he also wants his top striker wearing a Toronto jersey as often as possible. "If I was the England manager, I probably would pick him," Nelsen said last week. "Because you know what youre going to get with him -- you absolutely know what youre going to get with him." Defoe offers experience and a scoring touch off the bench. He has scored everywhere he has played. Hodgson opted for youth in most cases although he went with the 32-year-old Lambert up front. Rooney is 28, Sturridge 24 and Welbeck 23. Lambert, a late bloomer on the international scene, has two goals and four caps. The average age of the Englands squad is 26 years 117 days, more than two years younger than 2010 but older than 2006 (25 years 258 days), according to Opta. Barkley, Sterling, Luke Shaw and Jordan Henderson have a combined 14 caps. Eleven of the 23 players have 10 caps or less while only six have been to a World Cup. "Bags of attacking talent, much unproven but exciting nevertheless, blatantly short defensively through the centre," tweeted former England striker and current TV pundit Gary Lineker. The greybeads on the squad are Frank Lampard (35), captain Steven Gerrard (33) Phil Jagielka (31), Lambert (32) and Ben Foster (31). Youngsters include Sterling (19), Oxlade-Chamberlain (20), Henderson (23), Phil Jones (22), and Jack Wilshere (22). After the Portugal camp, England flies to Miami for warmup games against Honduras and Ecuador before opening the World Cup on June 14 against Italy. England is in a group with Costa Rica, Italy and Uruguay at the summer tournament in Brazil. The England standby list also includes uncapped defenders John Stones (19) of Everton and Jon Flanagan of Liverpool, less than a year after featuring for England in the U20s World Cup in Turkey last summer. Flanagan is the nephew of Toronto FC defender Bradley Orr. The other standby players are Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy and midfielders Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley of Manchester United. Bryan Garcia Jersey . Off-Season Game Plan looks at the Capitals possible summer plans, with the understanding that its tough to plot a direction without a general manager or head coach around which to set those expectations. Frank Tanana Jersey . "Hes over there," the first baseman said. "You dont need to talk to anybody else." Indeed, Peralta did it all as the majors top team won again. https://www.cheaptigers.com/1399z-hal-ne...sey-tigers.html. Chris Johnson singled with two outs off left-hander Jerry Blevins (1-1), and Schafer pinch ran. With a 2-2 count, Schafer ran on the pitch and Upton dropped a single in front of Bryce Harper. Schafer already was rounding third when Schafer bobbled the ball. Matthew Boyd Jersey . -- The road to the Masters got off to a bumpy start Sunday for Tiger Woods when he withdrew from the Honda Classic with what he said was a lower back injury. Rudy York Jersey . Ive said it before, Ive worked with top pros and I could have made my own program.ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Quarterback Kyle Orton keeps delivering in the clutch since taking over the starting job in Buffalo. And receiver Sammy Watkins is certainly showing signs of playing up to his dynamic first-round draft-pick promise for the Bills.The 10-year NFL journeyman and 21-year-old rookie combined for a 2-yard touchdown with 1 second left in a 17-16 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.Any time you get a chance to go on a game-winning drive, its awesome, Orton said. We hung in there, made some mistakes, but in the end we got the win, and that was our goal.Facing second-and-goal, Orton accepted the shotgun snap and immediately turned to his left, where he zipped a pass to Watkins who was a few yards deep in the end zone and had a step on cornerback Xavier Rhodes.The touchdown capped a 15-play, 80-yard drive in a game the Bills offence turned the ball over four times and lost starting running backs C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson to injuries.Orton shook off an interception and a lost fumble to finish 31 of 43 for 283 yards and two touchdowns, both to Watkins who finished with nine catches for 122 yards.To make the last play to win the game in Buffalo, its the best feeling ever, said Watkins.The player selected with the No. 4 pick out of Clemson then smiled and referred to his teammates when asked about his rookie status, I never really feel like a rookie except when those guys make me feel like one.Orton, who signed with Buffalo a week before the start of the season, improved to 2-1 since replacing second-year starter EJ Manuel.He won his first start three weeks ago with a drive that set up Dan Carpenters 58-yard field goal with 4 seconds left in a 17-14 win at Detroit.The Bills (4-3) snapped a two-game home losing streak, and bounced back from a 37-22 loss to New England.The Vikings (2-5) lacked finish on both defence and behind the Teddy Bridgewater-led offence that managed one touchdown — Cordarrelle Pattersons 4-yard catch — and three field goals on five trips inside the Bills 40.There are no words that can describe this loss, defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd said. Its the last play of the game. Ive got nothing to say about that except it hurts.The Vikings had their opportunities, only to give Orton new life on the final drive that began with 3:07 left.Orton extended the drive by converting a fourth-and-20 with a 24-yard pass to tight end Scott Chandler over the middle.dddddddddddd. Three plays later, Orton hit Watkins on a crossing pattern for an 18-yard gain on third-and-12.And Orton set up the decisive score by threading a 28-yard pass to Chris Hogan at the 2 along the left sideline.That hurt. Everything hurt. The touchdowns, fourth-and-20, everything hurt, said defensive end Everson Griffen, who had three sacks. We want the victory. It feels better when you get a victory. The sacks dont mean nothing when you lose.Bridgewater went 15 of 26 for 157 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions in his third career start, and first on the road. Rookie running back Jerick McKinnon had 103 yards rushing.Ahead 13-10, the Vikings squandered a chance to build a 10-point lead early in the fourth quarter when Bridgewater faced a first-and-goal at Buffalos 7.They instead went backward after Bridgewater was sacked on consecutive plays. Minnesota settled for a 33-yard field goal.The Bills finished with five sacks and Leodis McKelvin had two interceptions.Not all the news was good for Buffalo.Coach Doug Marrone said Spiller is out indefinitely after hurting his left shoulder while falling hard to the turf following a 53-yard run in the second quarter. Spiller was in tears while being carted off the length of the field.Jacksons status is uncertain, too. He had his head in his hands while being carted from the sideline with a groin injury late in the first quarter. Marrone said the team is awaiting tests to determine the severity of Jacksons injury.The injuries depleted Buffalos backfield to third-string running back Anthony Dixon and fullback Frank Summers.Dixon finished with 51 yards rushing.NOTES: Vikings starting centre John Sullivan (concussion) and starting right guard Vladimir Ducasse (right knee) did not return after being hurt. Coach Mike Zimmer did not have an update on their status. ... The four turnovers by the Bills were their most since committing five (four interceptions and a fumble) in a 27-6 loss at Tampa Bay last Dec. 8. ... At halftime, the Bills honoured retired radio play-by-play broadcaster Van Miller, by placing his name on the Ralph Wilson Stadiums Wall of Fame.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '