Anton went out to see Rio play in the far east, and was hoping to get his hands on one of the famous jerseys Rio acquired.
But, despite reports elsewhere that Rio was going to give one to kid brother, Anton smiles:
"I tried to ask him for one of them but he wasn't having it so I said 'fair enough' - he said they are too precious, and he is going to frame them."
Not that that soured the filial pride Anton felt for big bruv as he battled the world's finest on behalf of England.
"It was a very proud moment for me and my family to go there and actually watch him play, because last time he went to the World Cup he didn't actually get a game," says Anton.
"Watching him play in such big games was unbelievable; he did well, and hopefully he progresses on - hopefully I will as well."
Now though, it is back to business, and he adds:
"It was nice to go out there and watch my brother play - but now I am back to football and I have to do what I have to do.
"I play my own game; people have always drummed into me that he is Rio and I'm Anton, and that is the right way to go about it.
"All I can do is keep my fingers crossed, play as well as I can and see what happens - but hopefully I can go on and join the first team."
There are, of course, high hopes that Anton will be able to do just that, but he says modestly:
"I think Glen Johnson has a chance of getting there because he has been training with the first team a lot longer than I have."
As a defender, and notwithstanding the physical similarities as well, comparisons with Ferdie the elder are, perhaps, inevitable - but, ever so politely, not invited.
"I am not him, so it is not the same; I'd want to follow in his footsteps, but I'm Anton, not Rio," he says.
The immediate aim, he says, is to make the next step up, knowing that the stakes get higher every season.
"Hopefully I can train with the reserves and play in a few reserve team friendlies this summer; if I do well enough I hope I can push on from there," he says.
"It is my dream - and everyone's - to become a young footballer, so hopefully I can progress and make it come true.
"The staff are brilliant and the lads are as well, so I will just keep working there to get a chance."
Many a player down the years has done just that, only to move on, but Anton detects a shift in policy and explains:
"Everyone is so close at West Ham and it is sad when you see people go, but if we can keep the same team things are just going to get better.
"It looks like everyone is staying and I think those players we have will get better and bigger and stronger.
"They came in and helped us finish seventh; hopefully we can do better this time, and looking at the squad it looks half decent, so there is a chance of doing that."
Without, of course, getting shirty...