He might have been spared the same anxious wait as his outfield colleagues, but Robert Green is glad the England squad has been named and the players are free to concentrate on the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
As one of three goalkeepers in Fabio Capello's provisional 30-man selection, the West Ham United man knew only injury could deny him a seat on the plane to South Africa.
While the 30-year-old can be pleased for himself and club-mate Matthew Upson, who also made the cut, Green had some sympathy for Hammer of the Year Scott Parker, who was one of seven players overlooked.
"I didn't receive a phone call from the manager. I think with the three keepers being in we were fairly safe! We were kind of happy in the knowledge that we were going.
"It is a tough decision for Mr Capello to make and, in another way, a pleasing one in that he has so many good players to choose from and so it makes it difficult in that sense.
"For the players who are not in the squad, of course they will be disappointed but they can be pleased and proud still with what they have done to be here, in this position, they have all still had great seasons and done tremendously well and that is why they have been in contention.
"I am sure by the time pre-season comes around and they have had a break over the summer, they will all be ready for the start of the season for their clubs and be looking to do just as well again."
Green suffered the heartache of missing the 2006 World Cup in Germany after rupturing his groin in a pre-tournament warm-up fixture against Belarus in Reading.
Four years on, he is hopeful of being named as England's No1 for the Group C opener against the United States in Rustenburg on Saturday 12 June.
With group-stage fixtures to follow against Algeria and Slovenia, Green is confident the Three Lions can enjoy a productive time in South Africa.
"We are all very much looking forward to it. It is a fine line between success and failure sometimes and we will all be doing our very best to ensure it's a successful tournament for us."
Green and Upson are two of ten past and present West Ham players in England's 23-man squad.
Academy graduates Glen Johnson, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole have all been included, along with David James, John Terry and Jermain Defoe.