World Cup 2010: England Squad

The methodical and pragmatic England coach, Fabio Capello announced his final squad of 23 which will be traveling with him to South Africa with an eye on the World Cup.

Fabio Capello had initially shortlisted 30 players who he intended to test over a couple of friendlies against Mexico and Japan so that he would know which players are comfortable where, and what player combinations could be implemented when the sport's biggest extravaganza, the World Cup 2010, starts in South Africa.

There were some surprise exclusions there though. The most obvious one of course being that of Arsenal winger Theo Walcott. Walcott traveled with the England party to Germany last year, much to the surprise of a lot of people - although he never got to playing anyway. And with a fair few appearances for England under Fabio Capello, one would have thought that he has all but booked his seat on the plane for the World Cup 2010. But clearly that was not to be. His place as the understudy to Tottenham Hotspur's Aaron Lennon will be handed to the previously unfavored Shaun Wright-Phillips who Fabio Capello would rather have sitting on the bench watching Aaron Lennon strut his stuff, rather than running pointlessly behind the ball.

Everton's Leighton Baines had pretty much ruled himself out of traveling, having mumbled something about homesickness, which made Capello drop him like the proverbial hot potato. This more or less opened the door for Aston Villa left-back Stephen Warnock, who will most probably sitting on the bench, serving as an understudy for the excellent Ashley Cole of Chelsea.

The one player Capello particularly concerned himself with - Manchester City's Gareth Barry - will certainly be on the plane to the World Cup 2010, after proving that if not for the first game against the United States, he certainly will be able to take part in the second and third games of the Group stage. The fact that Barry might potentially miss a couple of games opened the door for Manchester United's Michael Carrick who will play in the defensive midfield role which Capello seems to espouse in no uncertain manner.

Aston Villa's highly rated Mr. Versatile, James Milner also will be traveling to the World Cup 2010, largely owing to the fact that Capello can place him in almost any vacant spot on the pitch and be sure that he won't make a mess of it.

And lastly, Emile Heskey gets chosen over Darren Bent probably only because the former too plays for Aston Villa and Capello is clearly very much into players from this club. Jokes apart, Capello has been a big fan of this tall lumbering striker and his apparent ability to hold the ball and the stellar intelligence he shows in continually passing the ball to England's biggest hurrah at the World Cup, Manchester United forward, Wayne Rooney. The inclusion of only 4 strikers, one of which is Emile Heskey means that most probably Rooney will be playing as the lone striker for much of the World Cup.

After putting in a decent performance in the game against Japan, tricky midfield jinker Joe Cole will be going to the World Cup with the other usual suspects Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Glen Johnson.

The goalkeeper selection was pretty straightforward as England has merely 3 half-decent ones at their disposal, and FIFA rules decree that there have to be three goalkeepers in any squad. Which of Joe Hart, David James and Robert Green actually plays at the World Cup remains to be seen

England's Final Squad of 23 for World Cup 2010:

Goalkeepers: David James (Portsmouth), Joe Hart (Birmingham City), Robert Green (West Ham).

Defenders: Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Ledley King (Tottenham Hotspur), John Terry (Chelsea), Matthew Upson (West Ham), Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa).

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur), James Milner (Aston Villa), Shaun Wright Phillips (Manchester City).

Forwards: Peter Crouch (Tottenham Hotspur), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United).

For more updates on the World Cup 2010, team news and match reports, watch this space...