Theo Walcott is the shock omission from England’s 23-man World Cup squad after Shaun Wright-Phillips was preferred by Fabio Capello.
The Arsenal forward, who scored a stunning hat-trick in England’s qualifying match against Croatia in Zagreb, learned his fate by telephone this lunchtime, having been in contention to start as first-choice right winger in South Africa before poor performances in warm-up matches against Mexico and Japan forced Capello into a rethink.
“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. “I would like to wish the team the best of luck and hope they have a really successful tournament.”
The full squad is: Joe Hart, David James, Robert Green; Jamie Carragher, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson, Ledley King, John Terry, Matthew Upson, Stephen Warnock; Gareth Barry, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Shaun Wright-Phillips; Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney.
Other absentees include Leighton Baines, Scott Parker, Adam Johnson and Darren Bent. Upson was named ahead of Michael Dawson as central-defensive cover, while the inclusion of Carrick, Wright-Phillips and Joe Cole meant that there is no place for Tom Huddlestone.
Barry is named in the final squad after coming through a medical examination this morning, while Warnock, the Aston Villa defender, was named as reserve left-back ahead of Baines.
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