Theo Walcott axed from Capello's chosen 23
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WORLD CUP 2010: Theo Walcott axed from England squad as Fabio Capello confirms his chosen 23
Unlucky 7 set to miss out on the World Cup
Theo Walcott (Arsenal)
Darren Bent (Sunderland)
Adam Johnson (Manchester City)
Leighton Baines (Everton)
Scott Parker (West Ham United)
Michael Dawson (Tottenham Hotspur)
Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham Hotspur)
Theo Walcott is the shock omission from Fabio Capello's 23-man England World Cup squad.
The Arsenal winger misses out along with Darren Bent (Sunderland), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Leighton Baines (Everton), Scott Parker (West Ham United), Michael Dawson and Tom Huddlestone (both Tottenham Hotspur).
Capello is understood to have personally called all seven to deliver the crushing news on Tuesday after being forced to cut his 30-man squad down to those he believes can bring home the trophy from South Africa.
Walcott said: '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.'
Despite not playing in either warm-up game against Mexico or Japan, Warnock was chosen ahead of Baines as the deputy for first-choice left back Ashley Cole.
Everton defender Baines had an awful game during the 3-1 win against Mexico at Wembley and also didn't help his claim by admitting homesickness could be a problem this summer.
The omission of Johnson as well as Walcott indicates that Chelsea contract rebel Joe Cole, Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips and Tottenham Hotspur's Aaron Lennon are to be included.
Differing fortunes: Spurs defenders King (left) and Dawson are thought to be vying for one spot
Capello is also understood to have been encouraged by the latest medical update on Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry, who was assessed this morning.
Barry is unlikely to be able to train fully until after England's opening Group C match against the United States, but damage to his ankle ligaments is showing improvement and he will almost certainly be taken as the preferred holding midfielder.
West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green appeared to confirm that Barry was in the squad.
'He's a tremendous holding player in midfield which allows the guys to go on and play the game,' said Green.
'A lot's been said about Stevie G (Gerrard) and Frank (Lampard) not being able to do things, being held back, and he allows them to do that.
'He's kind of an unsung hero in that respect to go out and do the job that he does and I think he's proved his importance in that the manager has waited until news of whether he'd be fit to announce his squad.
'I'm looking forward to seeing him on the plane tomorrow (Wednesday).'
Asked about reports of Bent being left out and Jermain Defoe included, Green added: 'Darren will be disappointed with that.
Calling the shots: England manager Fabio Capello
'It's a tough choice to make but I'm sure it's a pleasing choice for the manager because he's got such difficult choices to make over which players to keep in and which to keep out.
'Jermain has been there and done it at international level and the goals he's scored have proved critical at times.'
Walcott will no doubt be devastated by Capello's decision as he finds himself in the opposite position of four years ago.
The former Southampton starlet was the surprise inclusion in Sven Goran Eriksson's squad for Germany 2006, despite being a 17-year-old on the fringes of the Arsenal team.
He proceeded to watch the whole of the last World Cup from the bench, but only last week spoke of how he felt part of this year's group on merit.
'It's nice to get the chance to play and to deserve to play,' said Walcott in the build-up to Sunday's 2-1 win against Japan.
'I didn't deserve to play or to be in the squad at all in 2006. I'd not played in the Premier League and it's just not heard of.'
Walcott blossomed in the qualifying campaign and peaked with a hat trick in the 4-1 win at Croatia back in September 2008.
FABIO'S CHOSEN 23
Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), David James (Portsmouth), Robert Green (West Ham)
Defenders: Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Ledley King (Tottenham), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (LIverpool), 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)
Strikers: Peter Crouch (Tottenham), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
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should not have taken an injured and unfit player to world cup. just look at the form of beckham in 2002 and rooney in 2006. Barry should not have been selected.
SWP omg? he is rather one dimensional. I rather take walcott than SWP.
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Barry has a excellent understanding & can partner Gerrad in central midfield... He could also can be a holding midfielder to cover the back tracking defenders.
BUT he is injured... maybe he can recovers in time.... ( never bring a injured player along - wastage of air-ticket, accomodations )
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Adam Johnson is so much better then SWP, and is currently taking SWP place in the Man City squad, plus he is a pure natural left footer and doesn't rely on pace but rather dribbling skills unlike Lennon,Walcott and SWP.. Big mistake from Capello.
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perfer bent over heskey..
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Shld kick out Rooney & Ferdinand. Cannot do anything except dive & cry for foul.
Take Bent & A.J instead !
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Originally posted by palachan:
Shld kick out Rooney & Ferdinand. Cannot do anything except dive & cry for foul.
Take Bent & A.J instead !
Haha.. another anti-Man U....If Capello do that... you will be the next football guru...
Just stop playing too much FIFA football managers... get a life...
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Originally posted by Just_do_it_lah:
Haha.. another anti-Man U....If Capello do that... you will be the next football guru...
Just stop playing too much FIFA football managers... get a life...
Never played FM B4.
U shld get a life..... & a brain. cos assume too much!
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Originally posted by palachan:
Never played FM B4.
U shld get a life..... & a brain. cos assume too much!
yeah... that's reflexed to you really... Roony is the hottest property in EPL... only brainless & retarded people will suggest otherwise... -
Ya, like C.Ron his fellow diver. Go RM how? Hardly hear of him anymore.....
ManU retards must know their place...
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Originally posted by palachan:
Ya, like C.Ron his fellow diver. Go RM how? Hardly hear of him anymore.....
ManU retards must know their place...
You got no scv at home ? wat a pity....didn't know C.Ron replies to you directly...
ManU got 2nd last season... (their placing).. your team ? failed to make it to UCL next season ?
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For fucks sake, can U stop assuming?
I also dunno C.Ron replies to me, though i've been in Spain recently.
I HV no SCV but Starhub Cable! But may change to MIO.
ManU 2nd only????
Wat no UCL place? My my U need to check wif yr ManU pals who am i......Buddhist forum also assume, here olso same same. Still tell me not to highlight bold.
ManU ppl here not only stupid but blind... wat can i do?
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Originally posted by palachan:
For fucks sake, can U stop assuming?
I also dunno C.Ron replies to me, though i've been in Spain recently.
I HV no SCV but Starhub Cable! But may change to MIO.
ManU 2nd only????
Wat no UCL place? My my U need to check wif yr ManU pals who am i......Buddhist forum also assume, here olso same same. Still tell me not to highlight bold.
ManU ppl here not only stupid but blind... wat can i do?
haha.. you must be angry... then don't come in lor...What gotta do buddhism in football forum, moron ?
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palachan is a troll, running amock and full of shit. just ignore the troll. if you say he is moron, its even an insult to moron
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Originally posted by palachan:
For fucks sake, can U stop assuming?
I also dunno C.Ron replies to me, though i've been in Spain recently.
I HV no SCV but Starhub Cable! But may change to MIO.
ManU 2nd only????
Wat no UCL place? My my U need to check wif yr ManU pals who am i......Buddhist forum also assume, here olso same same. Still tell me not to highlight bold.
ManU ppl here not only stupid but blind... wat can i do?
Pls don't assuming that i am Red Devils fan... pls stopped assuming can ?
And I don't give a DIRT who you are !!
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dun reply to that troll lar. he is anti man u. his posts usually is full of ranting shit hole.
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Originally posted by Rooney9:
palachan is a troll, running amock and full of shit. just ignore the troll. if you say he is moron, its even an insult to moron
ok... you should have warned me earlier... -
Originally posted by Just_do_it_lah:
ok... you should have warned me earlier...football fans here know him and a few others, like divingunited
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hahaha
this people is sick.... (needs medication oil..) haha
most important is my bets make $...
$ makes the world go around...
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they are just kids lar, u know those 17 and 18 years old kid still growing up haven serve NS one. last time I hated AC Milan when I was a teen. looking back, part of growing pains.
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young kids huh?
well... need NS to discipline them...
btw, i think the line-up for England is expected... Capello wants to play it safe (& defensively)...
but Theo Walcott exclusion is a huge disappointment... he's definitely fast on the wings.. and a version for goals.
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I think Capello wil join Inter after the world cup. international football I think is not suited for him, as he prefers to manage the club on a daily basis.
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i think huddlestone deserves a place more than carrick... so does adam johnson over swp... i definitely think carragher shudnt come out of retirement because he wont be the starting 11, will even have to play rb if glen injures himself.
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I think the most undeserving one is neither SWP nor Heskey, it is Carragher.
I've read this from somewhere but just to summarise:
Carragher thinks he is playing sunday amatuer football: When it rains, he doesn't want to get his feet wet, chose to stay at home while his team battle it out on the field. And when his team reaches the final of the cup competition, this guy suddenly appears and wants a place in the final.
Moral of the story: You don't deserve a place if you chose not to fight for it in the first place.
And above all, Carragher's form this season has been bad and worse than King and Dawson so why should either of them be dropped when it's obvious Carragher shouldn't even be coaxed out of retirement? He should stay where he's most comfortable - at home.
And i also agree that SWP is too one-dimensional. His experience is probably why he was chosen ahead of Walcott and Johnson.
Barry can travel provided there's an extra cover: Carrick and Milner. So should be ok.
England's frontline is weird with strikers of different quality: Rooney - British Bulldog, Crouch - Beanpole Striker, Defoe - Pocket-Size Sniper and Heskey - Sol Campbell's double.
England can't make it past the 2nd round unless miracle happens.
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Originally posted by Rooney9:
they are just kids lar, u know those 17 and 18 years old kid still growing up haven serve NS one. last time I hated AC Milan when I was a teen. looking back, part of growing pains.
i'm 17.