England to unveil World Cup squad

[Guest The Great Ahmar]

England to unveil World Cup squad

 

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson will on Monday name a provisional squad to take to this summer's World Cup.

The Swede will make his announcement at 1400 BST at the Cafe Royal in London's Regent Street.

 

Eriksson can take 23 men to Germany and is expected to name a squad comprising that amount of players - with an extra three or four on a standby list.

 

First-choice strikers Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen, both recovering from injured metatarsals, will be included.

 

But the doubts over the pair could result in a shock call-up for Arsenal's 17-year-old striker Theo Walcott.

 

Walcott could be placed on standby with reports that Eriksson has watched him during visits to the Arsenal training ground where the Swede also ran the rule over defenders Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell.

 

Walcott has yet to make a first-team outing for the Gunners since his move to the club from Southampton in January but his cause has been championed by manager Arsene Wenger.

 

 

Walcott is an England Under-19 international

 

"If Sven calls me to ask should he take Walcott, I would not stop him doing that," said Wenger.

 

"Theo needs games at the moment but he has something very special. It would be a gamble, but he is an option."

 

Eriksson gave Rooney his England debut at 17, although he had played for former club Everton's first-team before becoming the country's youngest ever player.

 

Manchester United forward Rooney's chances of being fit for the World Cup in Germany appear to be slim, despite the 20-year-old spending sessions in an oxygen chamber to improve his chances of recovering from a broken foot.

 

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is wary of Rooney being taken to the World Cup in the hope he will recover for the later stages and then being pressured into playing when not fully-fit.

 

"I think Wayne will be in the squad. I'd do the same if I was in Sven-Goran Eriksson's position," said Ferguson.

 

"Wayne is showing a great determination to try to get ready for the World Cup. We know it is a forlorn hope but we will give it a try.

 

"We will see how he gets on over the next few weeks. That's the important time for him."

 

Owen raised concerns over the state of his fitness when he was not included in Newcastle's squad for their final game of the season against Chelsea.

 

 

We know it is a forlorn hope but we will give it a try

 

Ferguson on Rooney

 

He could now play a part in Alan Shearer's testimonial at St James' Park on Thursday as he bids to recover from his own foot injury.

 

"That will be left down to Michael completely now," said Newcastle caretaker-manager Glenn Roeder.

 

"If between the medical team and Michael, they thought there was any mileage in giving him a short run-out, that would happen.

 

"But if they didn't, he wouldn't take part. Michael wasn't on the bench because, exactly how he was after the game against Birmingham, he wasn't 100% happy with it.

 

"He's done some light training this week, but he's not 100% happy with it.

 

"There's still a dull ache there. It's nothing serious and he hasn't needed to visit the surgeon or have any more scans or X-rays since Sunday, and it's just a question now of being more patient and building him up.

 

"I'm sure there still is time for the World Cup, but with this injury now as far as Michael is concerned, I think you will have to take a weekly view of it rather than making long-term statements that can make you end up looking silly."

 

Eriksson's squad may have major worries in the striking department but the rest of his squad appears mostly to be the players he has kept faith during his five-year reign.

 

Central defender Ledley King is expected to be included, despite his foot injury, while the only other doubts are over whether he will include Aaron Lennon ahead of Shaun Wright-Phillips and Stewart Downing in place of Jermaine Jenas.

 

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Probable squad: Robinson, James, Green; G Neville, King, Campbell, R Ferdinand, Terry, Carragher, A Cole, Bridge; Beckham, Wright-Phillips, Gerrard, Lampard, Carrick, J Cole, Downing; Rooney, Owen, Crouch, Defoe, Bent.

Stand-by: Carson, Hargreaves, Lennon, Walcott.

 

 

 

 

Credit BBC.co.uk

 

So who will Sven pick then.

[Guest Proudy]

I'd take Carson over James anyday, also I'd take Lennon, hes been amazing this season.

[Guest Jung]

Amazed if he picks Walcott. Sure the kid might be a talent, but he hasn't even played in the Premiership yet, let alone at a bigger stage like the World Cup. People are saying Lennon shouldn't go cause he's not proven, yet Sven wants Walcott?

 

I'd also have Lennon over Downing but thats just me.

[Guest Clarkey]

To be fair to Theo, the reason he hasn't yet played in the Premiership as well as Arsene saying he wishes him to play less games which was the reason he did not loan him back to Southampton, is that Arsene sees him as a striker in the Thierry mould and the tough thing for Theo is it is Theirry he has to dislodge to get into the team. With our form and the importance of our games right up until the end of this season its been hard for Arsene to justify putting him in regardless of how much he rates the lad as it is an unneeded pressure for him. But for England as an unknown entity, and no one in a similar vein to him competeing for the forward berth i.e no one in the vein of Theirry, I see no reason why not to take Theo as a ickle gamble. He would rarely play anyways as if injuries to strikers were to occur we'd have the standby's to come in, so Theo would be that throw of the dice sitting on the bench to spice things up for the last 15/20 minutes.

 

I can perfectly understand your reasons for him not being in the squad and they are justified, but I think there is plenty of scope on the other side of the coin to justify taking the calculated gamble of taking Theo particularly with Rooney not being there. He offers something different to what we have, and may just be the ickle talisment we benefit from in one or two of the games. Again he may not even play, but also the experience of the lad being there (to be fair he doesn't have to be in the squad to do this so a plus point for those against Theo's inclusion), is the experience of being around the squad and honing him for the future tournaments.

[Guest Jung]

I guess so.

 

Although imagine how someone like Darren Bent would feel if Walcott got in the squad instead of him? Score 20 goals in a season for an average club, but get passed over for a younger lad, who's never played in the Premiership yet plays for a bigger club.

[Guest Proudy]

COME ON!!! Lennon and Walcott have both got in.

[Guest Jung]

True but no Defoe, King, Bent or Wright-Phillips?

 

And he's taking Hargreaves?

 

Jesus he's taking a big chance, with his 4 strikers being Owen (who's not fit), Rooney (who might not even play), Walcott (who's not even played in the Prem) and Peter Crouch?

 

Could you imagine Crouch and Walcott having to play the entire tournament as first choice?

[Guest Proudy]

BBC Sport

Walcott & Lennon in England squad

 

Theo Walcott and Aaron Lennon are in England's provisional World Cup squad, but Shaun Wright-Phillips, Jermain Defoe and Ledley King miss out.

 

Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing and Bayern Munich's Owen Hargreaves are other surprise inclusions in Sven-Goran Eriksson's 23-man squad.

 

Injured pair Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen are among only four strikers included, with Darren Bent ommitted.

 

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England's provisional squad:

 

Robinson (Tottenham), James (Manchester City), Green (Norwich)

 

G Neville (Manchester United), R Ferdinand (Manchester United), Terry (Chelsea), A Cole (Arsenal), Campbell (Arsenal), Carragher (Liverpool), Bridge (Chelsea)

 

Beckham (Real Madrid), Carrick (Tottenham), Lampard (Chelsea), Gerrard (Liverpool), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Jenas (Totenham), Downing (Middlesbrough), J Cole (Chelsea), Lennon (Tottenham)

 

Rooney (Manchester United), Owen (Newcastle), Crouch (Liverpool), Walcott (Arsenal).

 

Im quite shocked at Defoe or SWP not being in the team, but hopefully SWP will realise he'll have to move clubs now.

[Guest Jung]

I personally think its a complete suicide squad, and he's taking everything to chance.

 

We only have Carrick as a holding midfielder, and he's not that much of a holding player anyway, which I think is vital to play Gerrard and Lampard in the same team.

 

He's taken 2 actual fit strikers, neither who are particularly proven or great at this level.

 

He's taken midfielders who are just utility and won't ever change a game i.e. Hargreaves, Jenas.

 

I just think its a frightening squad.

 

Why does Hargreaves get the nod when he's done absolutely nothing over someone like Kevin Nolan, or Wright-Phillips?

If they can take Owen and Rooney injured, why not Ledley King, who is just as vital in other areas?

 

A scary, incredibly unproven squad, who could either do amazing feats, or go out in the first round. I'm just getting the impression Sven is going for broke, and doesn't give a toss about the outcome, cause he's leaving anyway.

 

Just don't understand some of his selections.

 

I don't think we've got a hope in hell of winning the World Cup with that squad.

[Guest Clarkey]

You missed out the standbys:

 

Standby:

Scott Carson (Liverpool), Luke Young (Charlton), Nigel Reo-Coker (West Ham), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Andy Johnson (Crystal Palace).

 

Rooney will no doubt drop out meaning Defoe will probably come in, its if Owen drops out that I worry as I expected Bent for the reasons Jung mentioned to be at least on standby. I like the look of the squad though, many gambles but like I said earlier about Theo I think the same applies to lads like Downing and Lennon but with those two they have the PL experience. And to be fair to Owen Hargreaves (to be fair, I am saying it too often now), he has been inform for Bayern and it earnt him his new deal. Could be a handy utility player, not someone who is going to win us the cup singlehandedly but he can come in and do a capable job, a role usually done by P.Neville, and I feel Hargreaves is a class above Phil in the role personally.

[Guest Proudy]

I think Svens done it because, he knows how much praise he'll get if we can pull it of. And if we dont, he'll blame it on the squad he picked.

[Guest Wolverine]

Jung's 100% correct. This is one hell of a gamble by Sven. Well, at least it makes things more interesting for neutrals like myself.

[Guest The B-Man]

I would still have taking Dyer, he's not even on standby. I know he is injury prone but when fit he is a great midfielder and can play in any midfield position.

[Guest MojoPogo]

In the words of the great poet Shao Kahn...."HE WILL FAIL!". Honestly, two unfit strikers, an untested teenager? WTF? I agree with Lennon going, he's a breath of fresh air to be honest, and unlike Wright Phillips, he's played more than 10 games.....

[Guest Jung]

I'd personally drop Jenas, and take another striker, cause arguably while there are some odd choices, at least there is enough balance and choice in the midfield and defence.

 

But up front, there is just no options. Rooney chances are won't even kick a ball, Owen may kick a ball and be injured, and that leaves us with Crouch and Walcott?

 

Its just far far too risky. I think Walcott would be fine IF he played with a Rooney or with an Owen, someone who is guaranteed world class. But playing with Crouch or on his own, is just so risky, because its so stupidly untested. People say Bent's unproven and he scored 20 Prem goals. Walcott's not even played, and now might have to spearhead our attack at the World Cup?

 

The argument I've heard for him is "if we know sod all about him, how much will the opposition know?" which is true, but what if, inside the first 10 minutes he looks totally out of his depth and inept? Will they still be unsure?

 

While that wouldn't happen with Owen and Rooney, it probably wouldn't happen with Defoe or Bent, for these guys have played for England, played against the big clubs. I don't think Walcott has played for anyone bigger than say what Palace or Leeds, let alone Man Utd, or God forbid, Brazil.

 

Untested is good, but he's not just untested at one level, but three levels. Is he Premiership class? International Class? World class? Who knows.

 

One hell of a gamble, that I don't think we'll pull off.

[Guest Davros]

Just a thought but do you reckon he'll play either Gerrard or Lampard just behind the front man (probably Crouch till Owen and Rooney are fully fit)?

 

With Rooney out and Owen unfit it gives him the opportunity to finally have a system where Gerrard and Lampard fit in together along with Carrick as a holding player. Walcott is then the surprise package to come off the bench (Sven's plan B)

[Guest The Beltster]

We could go to the World Cup with any possible English squad and come away with bugger all, its the same old story every 2 years with World and European championships. When we go with the best possible squad, every Englishman alive makes poor excuses for our being eliminated, when we go with a less-than-stellar group, every Englishman alive will use that as their amunition for moaning when we eventually get knocked out.

 

Lets face it boys, England dont have a good enough team to win the World Cup, with or without top strikers Rooney and Owen fit or not.

[Guest Davros]

Maybe thats Sven's thinking. In previous years when the strongest squad has been taken they've mucked up..........this year though the surprise package. Players that have barely played Premier League football let alone Internationally.

 

Put ya money on the table. Walcott to win the World cup for us with a hat trick in the final!!! :thumbsup

[Guest MillionLiraMan]

First off, England can't get knocked out in the first round because their group is so easy. Sweden might beat them but Paraguay have no goals in them whatsoever and even Scotland can beat Trinidad and Tobago so let's not do the usual English thing of building up diddy teams as world stars so that when England tan them easily the English media can make out that it was a fantastic victory against the odds.

 

Be nice if they did since I can't enjoy any World Cup or European Championships until or unless England are out of it. I have no gripes with the fans, I live in England, but the press and media are so overbearing it makes you hate them while games between the likes of Netherlands and Argentina at half-time suddenly become all about England while repeated mentions of England in any game which has nothing to do with England abound. Even if they go out the remaining games are spent dissecting the aftermath of what England did so there's only so much observational coverage even then.

 

As for the squad, meh. They'll get through the first round so Rooney might be fit by then in which case all this debate about running out of Waldorfs or whatever will be irrelevant.

[Guest Proudy]

Am I the only one who isnt freaking out over this selection? I've just been over to Sortitoutsi.net (Cheap Plug :P), which if you dont know is a Football Manager site and they're all freaking out aswell.

 

You should all stop moaning and bitching and instead get behind the team! I really hope these lads prove you all wrong.

[Guest Wolverine]

Am I the only one who isnt freaking out over this selection? I've just been over to Sortitoutsi.net (Cheap Plug :P), which if you dont know is a Football Manager site and they're all freaking out aswell.

 

You should all stop moaning and bitching and instead get behind the team! I really hope these lads prove you all wrong.

 

The Dugout (specifically The Third Half) > Sortitoutsi

 

I like some aspects of it, but as a whole, the squad is far too risky.

 

I agree with:

 

(a) The inclusion of pacy, in-form wingers (Lennon and Downing)

(b) Players with actual talent being picked over the usual cloggers (for the most part)

© No really stupid omissions from the squad

(d) The likes of Nigel Reo-Coker being recognised (get injured Jenas!)

 

I disagree with:

 

(a) Only taking one fit striker

(b) Picking a player who's had less than twenty professional games

© Taking an out-of-sorts Sol Campbell to the World Cup

(d) Hargreaves and Jenas being picked

(e) Taking three goalkeepers

(f) The amount of midfielders in the squad

[Guest Christof]

Well, huge gamble on Walcott but the guy has talent that's for sure.

 

Another name I'd add to the list of "deserves to be disappointed" - Kieran Richardson. Cracking player who looked good on debut last year.

 

I can see us playing Gerrard or Cole just off Crouch in a 4-5-1, 4-4-1-1 style of formation until Rooney and Owen get fit.

[Guest Proudy]

Wolve, I'll have to cheak "The Dugout" out, never been on there before.

 

Anyway...

 

Walcott is in the same bracket as Rooney and Owen. He's got the talent and the pace to make many a defender in the World Cup pack their panties.

 

And i'm relieved and delighted that Svens seen the sense to pick little genius Aaron Lennon. Class act that boy, Downing has been good too.

 

The only ones I arent keen on are Hargreaves, James/Green (Carson should be picked over both of them) and Jenas.

 

Also I alot of people are moaning about not taking King and taking Rooney... taking an injured King isn't like taking an injured Rooney!

[Guest The Great Ahmar]

A terrible Team choice, Hargreaves is quite possibleably the worst Person to put on a England Shirt. Walcott is not ready, Lennon does and doesn't deserve a place over Wright-Phillips.

[Guest Danny Styles]

England won't get further than the quarters now

 

Sven has just killed the England world cup hopes

 

 

first the strikers

 

STUPID AS

why take walcott, he played well for southampton in the CHAMPIONSHIP,world class defenders will take him apart, and peter crouch is the biggest waste of space ever, just say Rooney and woen are injured??

 

we will be trying to take out teams like Brazil with Theo Walcott and Crouch up front?!?! no chance

 

Why isn't Defoe in??

 

 

Midfield

 

Ok take Lennon, but i seriously disagree with leaving Wright Phillips out, he hasn't played loads of football but when he has he has looked class, and Walcott hasn't played either??

 

Defense

 

If you're taking Rooney you take Ledley King instead of that nut job Campbell

 

 

Awful choice by Sven.. i wonder if he would have made the same decisions if he wasn't leaving?