Fabio Capello waited until the last minute to make name his team, but his final announcement came with fireworks.
England Announces Final 23-Man Roster For 2010 World Cup: Walcott Left In London
For months it had been assumed the pace (and qualifying performances) of Theo Walcott had the Arsenal attacker’s ticket to South Africa punched; however, when Capello announced England’s 23-man roster of the South African finals, Walcott’s name was omitted.
The 21-year-old Walcott has made 11 appearances for the senior national team, scoring three goals, all in a September 10, 2009 World Cup qualifier in Croatia. The speedy right winger may have been viewed as surplus to requirements, with Aaron Lennon returning to health. In his place, Fabio Capello appears to have taken Shaun Wright-Phillips, who it is thought could cover at right back, if needed.
Other cuts from the England team: defenders Leighton Baines and Michael Dawson; midfielders Tom Huddlestone, Adam Johnson, Scott Parker; striker Darren Bent.
Manchester City’s Gareth Barry has made the team though he carries an ankle injury that has kept him out of action during the team’s two May friendlies. Capello had said that Barry would make the team if his prognosis portended fitness at some point in the group stage. The central midfielder’s inclusion comes after promising reports during a weekend’s worth of examinations.
Barry is joined in the midfielder by Lennon, central midfield partner Frank Lampard, and Steven Gerrard - one of Capello’s likely starting quartets. Aston Villa’s James Milner was also considered a lock and is in the team, as is Wright-Phillips, Joe Cole and Manchester United’s Michael Carrick, somewhat of a surprise inclusion, as his late-season form in the English Premier League had led to him losing time in Sir Alex Ferguson’s set-up.
At forward, Wayne Rooney, Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, and Emile Heskey were all considered locks. Darren Bent, a surprise inclusion in the 30-man, provisional squad, was left out of the final team.
In defense, captain Rio Ferdinand and former captain John Terry are the expected starters along with left back Ashley Cole and right back Glen Johnson. Aston Villa’s Stephen Warnock makes the team as Cole’s deputy, with Jamie Carragher likely to provide cover at right back. Matthew Upson wins the battle at center half and will take the last spot on the depth chart behind Ledley King.
The three England goalkeepers had been ordained when Capello announced the squad, and although it is unclear who will start against the United States on June 12, Portsmouth’s David James, West Ham United’s Robert Green, and Manchester City’s Joe Hart have all made the final squad.
England is the seeded team in Group C, where they will compete with the States against Slovenia and Algeria.
Final Squad
Goalkeepers
Green, Robert (West Ham United)
Hart, Joe (Manchester City)
James, David (Portsmouth)
Defenders
Carragher, Jamie (Liverpool)
Cole, Ashley (Chelsea)
Ferdinand, Rio (Manchester United)
King, Ledley (Tottenham)
Johnson, Glen (Liverpool)
Terry, John (Chelsea)
Upson, Matthew (West Ham United)
Warnock, Stephen (Aston Villa)
Midfielders
Barry, Gareth (Manchester City)
Carrick, Michael (Manchester United)
Cole, Joe (Chelsea)
Gerrard, Steven (Liverpool)
Lampard, Frank (Chelsea)
Lennon, Aaron (Tottenham)
Milner, James (Aston Villa)
Wright-Phillips, Shaun (Manchester City)
Forwards
Crouch, Peter (Tottenham)
Defoe, Jermain (Tottenham)
Heskey, Emile (Aston Villa)
Rooney, Wayne (Manchester United)
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