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Theo Walcott left out of England's 23

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  • Theo Walcott left out of England's 23

    Arsenal winger Theo Walcott was the surprise omission from Fabio Capello's 23-man England World Cup squad.
    Walcott, 21, who has 11 caps, started both of England's recent friendly victories against Mexico and Japan.
    Darren Bent, Adam Johnson, Scott Parker, Michael Dawson, Leighton Baines and Tom Huddlestone also miss out.
    Gareth Barry is included after a fitness test on his ankle injury, while Stephen Warnock, Michael Carrick and Ledley King also make the squad.
    Walcott was a shock member of former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson's 2006 World Cup squad, having never started a Premier League game but he did not feature in the tournament and the then-17-year-old's inclusion was widely criticised.
    The right winger has since scored three international goals, all coming in a 4-1 World Cup qualifying victory against Croatia in Zagreb on 10 September 2008.

    606: DEBATE
    Give your reaction to England's World Cup squad
    But after suffering with shoulder, back, knee and hamstring problems this season he has been restricted to 15 starts for Arsenal this term, with his form suffering as a result.
    Walcott said in a statement: "I am very disappointed not to be included in the squad going out to South Africa, but completely respect Mr Capello's decision.
    "I would like to wish the team the best of luck and hope they have a really successful tournament."
    Former England captain Alan Shearer was not surprised by Capello's decision to select tried and tested players to take to South Africa.
    "The choices were inevitable," said Shearer.
    "But Capello had said players have to be in form and playing for their team to be selected, which Joe Cole and Heskey weren't, but he's gone for them because they're experienced."
    Tottenham skipper King, 29, has been plagued by a chronic knee problem that restricts his ability to train and play back-to-back games in quick succession.
    He featured for the first time under coach Fabio Capello against Mexico on 24 May, scoring with a first-half header.
    King had previously been named in a Capello squad in March 2009 but withdrew after being assessed by the England medical staff.

    England always play with a target man so Rooney and Defoe are always ahead of Bent. Barring injury I never thought he'd be on the plane
    Chris Waddle
    Warnock's only England appearance came as an 84th minute substitute in a friendly against Trinidad & Tobago in May 2008.
    The Aston Villa defender, 28, has previously played for Liverpool and Blackburn as well as loan spells at Bradford and Coventry, and has been preferred in the squad to Baines, who played against Mexico last week and Egypt in March.
    Tottenham defender Dawson and West Ham midfielder Parker did not feature in either of the games against Mexico and Japan while Manchester City winger Johnson only got a run out as a late substitute.
    Huddlestone was impressive in Tottenham's midfield as they finished the Premier League in fourth place.
    The 23-year-old came on as a substitute against Mexico and started against Japan but did not force his way into the final 23.
    Sunderland striker Bent was the third highest scorer in the 2009-10 Premier League season with 24 goals but has also missed out.
    And former England winger Chris Waddle admitted Bent's omission was understandable considering the way England play.
    "It's hard for Darren Bent," said Waddle.
    "He has got 23 goals and England always play with a target man so Rooney and Defoe are always ahead of Bent. Barring injury I never thought he'd be on the plane."
    Manchester City midfielder Barry has not played since he picked up a ligament injury in a Premier League match against Tottenham on 5 May and had an extensive test on his injured ankle on Tuesday morning.
    Joe Cole is now fully fit after a serious knee ligament injury and produced an impressive second-half cameo during Sunday's 2-1 win against Japan.
    And Waddle, who played for England at the World Cup in 1990, said Cole had benefitted from Johnson's inexperience after Capello decided to leave the Manchester City man at home.
    "Adam Johnson has played very well," said Waddle.
    "He looked very good in the five minutes in the friendly and I think it was between him and Joe Cole and he's gone for Cole."
    The World Cup begins on 11 June, with England's first game coming a day later against the United States in Rustenburg.
    England's 23-man squad for the World Cup finals:
    Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), David James (Portsmouth), Robert Green (West Ham).
    Defenders: Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Ledley King (Tottenham), John Terry (Chelsea), Matthew Upson (West Ham), Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa).
    Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), James Milner (Aston Villa), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City).
    Forwards: Peter Crouch (Tottenham), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United).

  • #2
    What the surprise? I watched him against Japan and was wondering why Capello didn't bring on Lennon. Theo is quick but 8 times out of 10 he has no end product.

    I'm surprised Carrick and SWP made the team. Also surpised the Man City youth Johnson didn't make it. The team has no natural left footed player for the LW.
    "Jamaica's future reflects its past, having attained only one per cent annual growth over 30 years whilst neighbours have grown at five per cent." (Article)

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    • #3
      happy for my cousin David James!


      BLACK LIVES MATTER

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      • #4
        no place for bent, 24 goals 3rd in golden boot, an yuh tek heskey, second round team trus mi

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        • #5
          No surprise here. I know Capello (thanks to watching Robinho at madrid)> I sort of know how he approaches his game. The english team is a slight reflection of Madrid.

          I have Dunga too

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          • #6
            Heskey fits in his plans

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            • #7
              further you go into the tournament, flick on ball game less an less effective, England fi leff dem ting deh to some likkle side,

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              • #8
                who say capello ah go give heskey full game?

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                • #9
                  exactly, when all else fails yuh bring on the flick on man? not very inspiring, a nuh my side still , mi nuh si England passing second round

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                  • #10
                    Might not be bad for Walcott. He was not being used/supplied the ball as regularly as he should. ...but it may be that his teammates had no confidence in him...and let's face facts he does act the 'Little Missy' when faced with half-way decent tough defenders. One little growl and he hides.

                    This being left out may just be the kick in the pants he needs to toughen up and let reign go to his undoubted talents.
                    "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

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                    • #11
                      There can only be so much surprise package. SWP, Theo and Lennon was fighting fi the super sub spot.
                      • Don't let negative things break you, instead let it be your strength, your reason for growth. Life is for living and I won't spend my life feeling cheated and downtrodden.

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                      • #12
                        This decision just proved that when Sven took him to the last world cup, he was drunk or something.
                        "Jamaica's future reflects its past, having attained only one per cent annual growth over 30 years whilst neighbours have grown at five per cent." (Article)

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Assasin View Post
                          There can only be so much surprise package. SWP, Theo and Lennon was fighting fi the super sub spot.
                          One must start...England's squad is lacking creative players. Joe Cole should also get 40 - 60 minutes per match. He is a player that can unlock any defense.
                          "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

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                          • #14
                            Joe Cole should also get 40 - 60 minutes per match. He is a player that can unlock any defense
                            .

                            Karl you are not serious with the above. Joe who?

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                            • #15
                              THEO WALCOTT was axed from England's World Cup squad because he would not obey boss Fabio Capello's orders.


                              The Arsenal winger paid the price for failing to carry out instructions to stay out wide in the last two friendly games.

                              Capello kept telling Walcott he had to stay out wide on the right and try to beat his man on the outside, instead of coming inside all the time.

                              But Walcott kept drifting in-field, much to the frustration of Capello, who snapped when he went over a recording of England's 3-1 win against Mexico.

                              An insider revealed: "The manager gave Theo an ear-bashing in front of us all - but the message wasn't getting through."

                              Capello was also not impressed by Walcott's displays in training.

                              The Gunners starlet, 21, was given one last chance to show he could do what he was told.

                              But, when it still had not clicked by half-time of Sunday's friendly against Japan in Graz, Walcott was substituted - and his World Cup dream ended.

                              His replacement, Shaun Wright-Phillips, had a fine second half while Joe Cole occupied the right flank later on.

                              Capello will be hoping his faith in the fitness of one of Walcott's wing rivals, Aaron Lennon, is not misplaced.

                              England camp insiders claim the Spurs star's groin injury has still not properly cleared up.

                              Meanwhile, Gareth Barry proved his readiness for South Africa by coming through an extensive fitness test on his Achilles injury yesterday morning.

                              There is even a chance he could feature in England's opener against the USA in Rustenburg on June 12.

                              The other six players to miss out apart from Walcott were Darren Bent, Michael Dawson, Tom Huddlestone, Scott Parker, Adam Johnson and Leighton Baines.

                              Baines lost out on the reserve left-back spot to Aston Villa's Stephen Warnock even though Warnock did not play in the warm-up friendlies.

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