AS England’s under-performing players lick their wounds, the man who slipped to fourth-choice keeper at Wigan believes he is destined for the World Cup final.

It does seem odd that, having been branded “a complete waste of space” by former Birmingham owner David Sullivan following a miserable period at St Andrew’s, and spent two years languishing in the reserves at Wigan, Richard Kingson is still in South Africa while Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard run the gauntlet of public ridicule following England’s demise.

Kingson has produced a series of eye-catching displays for Ghana, none more so than against the United States in Rustenburg last Saturday, when the 32-year-old played a major role in ensuring there was African representation in the last eight.

So, while England’s highly-paid stars can only watch on TV, Kingson is preparing for the game of his life when Ghana look to book a semi-final berth by beating Uruguay tomorrow night.

“I am here and they are not. Everybody can see that,” said Kingson of England’s demise.

“There is no need for me to say anything. It is for other people to judge. But I am a little bit surprised England were so bad because most of their players have had a good season, especially those from Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool.

“We all expected them to get to the final, or at worst the semis. To go out in the last 16 was not part of the plan at all.”