Crouch realises his late-night exploits will not help his World Cup cause

London, Nov 11 (ANI): Tottenham striker Peter Crouch, who is a strong contender for the England World Cup squad, has realised that his late-night exploits were not the most sensible in such a crucial season.

The Tottenham striker was caught out on the town in the early hours of the morning following his team's victory at Portsmouth last month.

He was pictured bopping away with teammate Jonathan Woodgate and then later poking his lanky frame through the roof of a taxi and waving. The photos did not go down well with manager Harry Redknapp, who had told his squad not to go clubbing.

And they were hardly likely to impress hardliner England boss Fabio Capello either, The Sun reports.

Crouch confessed: "Harry said to me 'You're an idiot, now move on.' Was I worried about Fabio Capello's reaction? Yes, of course. But I didn't know what he would think and he hasn't said anything to me.

"It was eight days before the next game. I've not covered myself in glory but I haven't killed anyone, even though I feel like I have. We were going out with all the lads, as a team, and it probably escalated a bit more than I would have planned."

"But if you don't have a game until the following weekend, you want to go out and relax. It can't be football, football, football. Yet being a World Cup year we have to concentrate on football matters. It won't happen again," Crouch added.

Crouch has steadily been moved up Capello's pecking order. (ANI)