Theo Walcott was the surprise exclusion from England coach Fabio Capello’s World Cup squad (6/1 Outright), while Darren Bent, Adam Johnson, Leighton Baines, Michael Dawson, Scott Parker and Tom Huddlestone also missed the cut.

The Italian went ahead to name his 23 to travel to South Africa after recieving a positive update on Gareth Barry’s ankle injury which had threatened to rule him out. And the Manchester City midfielder will be on the plane for the tournament which starts for the Three Lions on June 12 against the USA in Rustenburg (England 1/2, USA 5/1, draw 5/2 Match Betting).

However, the big shock was Capello’s decision to omit Arsenal winger Walcott from the squad given that he was the youngest player to travel to a World Cup when Sven-Goran Eriksson picked him to go to Germany in 2006.

Walcott’s absence along with Manchester City starlet Johnson paves the way for his City team-mate Shaun Wright-Phillips, Chelsea’s Joe Cole and Tottenham’s Aaron Lennon to travel as the wide men.
Sunderland hitman Bent’s axing means that Emile Heskey, Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch and Wayne Rooney will be the four forwards.

Aston Villa left-back Stephen Warnock has surprisingly got the nod to provide back-up for Chelsea’s Ashley Cole with Baines making way, while Dawson also drops off the defender list to leave John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Ledley King, Glen Johnson, Matthew Upson and Jamie Carragher in the squad.

In midfield Parker and Huddlestone lose out so Manchester United’s Michael Carrick will feature for Capello along with Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Barry and James Milner.

The three goalkeepers David James, Robert Green and Joe Hart make up the 23 man squad.

England’s final 23-man World Cup squad:

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, Robert Green, David James.

Defenders: Glen Johnson, Stephen Warnock, Jamie Carragher, Ledley King, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Matthew Upson, Ashley Cole.

Midfielders:, James Milner, Steven Gerrard, Michael Carrick, Frank Lampard, Gareth Barry.

Attacking Midfielders: Aaron Lennon, Joe Cole, Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Strikers: Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey, Peter Crouch.