Fabio Capello is due to name his provisional 30-man squad at Wembley on Tuesday, with many tipping Stoke winger Etherington as a candidate to be included in the party that will travel to Austria for a pre-tournament training camp.
The 28-year-old has enjoyed a superb season as the Potters preserved their Premier League status, scoring seven goals including the winner in Wednesday's 1-0 triumph at Fulham to help scoop the club's player of the year award.
But Etherington feels a knee injury sustained at Manchester City in February, a game watched by Capello, came at the wrong time and forced him to the sidelines for a month at a crucial part of the campaign.
Asked whether he has resigned himself to not making the plane for South Africa, Etherington said: "Yes, definitely.
"I'm not stupid. I think the injury I sustained at Manchester City did set me back somewhat and I think the squad was named for the Egypt game a week after - Ryan (Shawcross) got the call-up for that game and I think I was relatively close.
"But these things happen, it took me a while to obviously get back fit again and playing to where I was before that.
"But yes, I think I'm sensible enough to know that's in the distance now."
He continued: "(If I were to get a call-up) I'll be on holiday, so I'll have to fly home.
"It will always be a dream of mine until I stop playing football to play for my country, but I think the World Cup is probably out of the question now.
"I might be wrong but I think most people would be in agreement with me."
Source: Team Talk
Source: Team Talk