Capello Names His Final 23-Man Squad For South Africa

Theo Walcott has missed out on England coach Fabio Capello's 23-man World Cup squad, with Gareth Barry and Joe Cole making the cut.

Walcott is the shock omission from the Italian's final party for South Africa, with the Arsenal forward widely expected to secure a seat on the plane.

The former Southampton youngster was a surprise inclusion for the 2006 tournament under Sven Goran Eriksson, but returned home from Germany without having set foot on the pitch during a match.

He played an integral role during the qualifying campaign, including scoring a stunning hat-trick in the away victory over Croatia in 2008, before an early-season injury saw him slip down the international pecking order.

Darren Bent, Leighton Baines, Michael Dawson, Tom Huddlestone, Scott Parker and Adam Johnson were the other six not to make the cut.

Manchester City midfielder Barry has proved his fitness after suffering an ankle injury in the defeat by Tottenham on 5th May, although he is not expected to feature until the latter stages of the group phase.

Options

---

Chelsea ace Joe Cole has forced his way into the reckoning despite a lack of regular action for the Blues this season following his knee injury.

Bent misses out even though he bagged 24 Premier League goals this season for Sunderland, behind only Didier Drogba and Wayne Rooney in the race for the Golden Boot.

That leaves Rooney, Peter Crouch, Emile Heskey and Jermain Defoe as England's orthodox striking options.

Stephen Warnock has been given the nod to provide cover for left-back Ashley Cole with Wayne Bridge making himself unavailable for selection earlier this year.

England's campaign begins on 12th June with their Group C opener against USA before further encounters with Slovenia and Algeria.

England squad for 2010 World Cup

---

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, David James, Robert Green.

Defenders: Jamie Carragher, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson, Ledley King, John Terry, Matthew Upson, Stephen Warnock.

Midfielders: Gareth Barry, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Strikers: Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney.

Source: Sky Sports

-- Edited by I-CO on Tuesday 1st of June 2010 08:24:20 PM