Walcott out but Barry gets the nod
Source: Agencies |
June 2, 2010, Wednesday
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THEO Walcott was omitted from England's final 23-man World Cup squad yesterday, one of seven players dropped by coach Fabio Capello following a training camp.
Capello preferred the more experienced Joe Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips to the Arsenal winger, who was at the 2006 World Cup at the age of 17 but never played.
Capello also left Darren Bent, Tom Huddlestone, Adam Johnson, Scott Parker, Michael Dawson and Leighton Baines out of the party that heads to South Africa today. Defensive midfielder Gareth Barry is included despite an ankle injury that could still rule him out of England's opening group match against the United States on June 12.
Bent's omission means that Emile Heskey will go to a second World Cup despite starting fewer than half Aston Villa's Premier League matches this season.
"I am very disappointed not to be included in the squad going out to South Africa, but completely respect Mr Capello's decision," Walcott said in a statement on Arsenal's Website. "I would like to wish the team the best of luck and hope they have a really successful tournament."
Wayne Rooney, Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe are the other strikers in a squad also featuring three goalkeepers, eight defenders and eight midfielders.
Walcott looked certain to make it into the World Cup squad in September 2008 when he scored a hat-trick against Croatia to lead England to a 4-1 win in what commentators had said would be its toughest qualifying match.
England has won all 11 games in which Walcott has played but injuries and loss of form restricted him to just 12 Premier League starts this season.
Elsewhere, Nigeria named six players with World Cup experience on Monday in its final squad. Nwankwo Kanu will captain the side at his third World Cup.
Coach Lars Lagerback did include Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel who has recently returned from knee surgery.
Ivory Coast coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has cut striker Bakari Kone and midfielders Emerse Fae and Gilles Yapi Yapo from his World Cup squad. Eriksson included six forwards in an attacking squad: Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou of Chelsea, Portsmouth's Aruna Dindane, Abdul Keita, Seydou Doumbia and Gervinho of Lille.
Veteran forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco is also headed for his third World Cup. Blanco, 37, was retained in Mexico's 23 while Jonathan Dos Santos missed out. His older brother Giovani however made it in the squad. Jonathan is a 20-year-old midfielder with Barcelona while Giovani plays for Tottenham.
Capello preferred the more experienced Joe Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips to the Arsenal winger, who was at the 2006 World Cup at the age of 17 but never played.
Capello also left Darren Bent, Tom Huddlestone, Adam Johnson, Scott Parker, Michael Dawson and Leighton Baines out of the party that heads to South Africa today. Defensive midfielder Gareth Barry is included despite an ankle injury that could still rule him out of England's opening group match against the United States on June 12.
Bent's omission means that Emile Heskey will go to a second World Cup despite starting fewer than half Aston Villa's Premier League matches this season.
"I am very disappointed not to be included in the squad going out to South Africa, but completely respect Mr Capello's decision," Walcott said in a statement on Arsenal's Website. "I would like to wish the team the best of luck and hope they have a really successful tournament."
Wayne Rooney, Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe are the other strikers in a squad also featuring three goalkeepers, eight defenders and eight midfielders.
Walcott looked certain to make it into the World Cup squad in September 2008 when he scored a hat-trick against Croatia to lead England to a 4-1 win in what commentators had said would be its toughest qualifying match.
England has won all 11 games in which Walcott has played but injuries and loss of form restricted him to just 12 Premier League starts this season.
Elsewhere, Nigeria named six players with World Cup experience on Monday in its final squad. Nwankwo Kanu will captain the side at his third World Cup.
Coach Lars Lagerback did include Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel who has recently returned from knee surgery.
Ivory Coast coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has cut striker Bakari Kone and midfielders Emerse Fae and Gilles Yapi Yapo from his World Cup squad. Eriksson included six forwards in an attacking squad: Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou of Chelsea, Portsmouth's Aruna Dindane, Abdul Keita, Seydou Doumbia and Gervinho of Lille.
Veteran forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco is also headed for his third World Cup. Blanco, 37, was retained in Mexico's 23 while Jonathan Dos Santos missed out. His older brother Giovani however made it in the squad. Jonathan is a 20-year-old midfielder with Barcelona while Giovani plays for Tottenham.
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