THEO WALCOTT was still in a “state of shock” last night after the Arsenal winger, once described by Fabio Capello as the nation’s “best talent” and the man who ignited the side’s qualification campaign, was left out of the England squad for the World Cup.
A surprise inclusion four years ago, the midfielder became this summer’s unanticipated omission after a season wrecked by injury was compounded by subdued displays in the recent friendly victories over Mexico and Japan. Capello has instead opted to pick Shaun Wright-Phillips, who lost out to Walcott for a place in the 2006 finals.
It is understood Walcott had no inkling that his position was in any doubt. He was on the golf course yesterday and initially disbelieving when Capello telephoned to relay the news.
Gareth Barry has been included after proving his fitness in tests yesterday morning – he should be available for the second group game, against Algeria, on June 18th – while Everton’s Leighton Baines was omitted in favour of Stephen Warnock, who has six minutes of international football to date but will serve as Ashley Cole’s back-up.
The others to miss out on today’s flight to Johannesburg from the provisional 30-man squad were Darren Bent, Scott Parker, Tom Huddlestone, Adam Johnson and the uncapped Michael Dawson.
Yet it was Walcott’s exclusion that drew the focus. The Arsenal winger, the man who had kickstarted England’s qualification campaign with a hat-trick in the 4-1 win over Croatia in Zagreb in the autumn on 2008, had been sitting the theory section of his driving test four years ago before his father delivered a more positive message from Sven-Goran Eriksson – but was left devastated this time around.
“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.”
Yet one source close to the player described him as being “in a state of shock” last night, with neither the England coach nor the national set-up’s general manager Franco Baldini having offered any indication that his place was in jeopardy.
Indeed, Capello had described the 21-year-old as “one of our most important players” as recently as after the 3-1 friendly win over Egypt at Wembley in March.
However, while the player felt as if he was approaching his best again, frustration has been welling within the management set-up at a perceived lack of discipline on the pitch in recent England games, with Walcott singled out for particular criticism in Capello’s post-match analysis of the Mexico game last week.
The player, it is understood, had strayed too often from a position on the by-line, veering from the Italian’s instructions, with his delivery erratic from the wing.
Even in that context, however, he had envisaged being included in the party for the finals after showing flashes over the final few weeks of the season of the form that had singed Croatia.
The spate of niggling injuries, almost all related to a lower back problem sustained in a pre-season fixture against Valencia, had eased.
Yet, while England have won all 11 of the games in which the winger has played, a season which saw only 12 Premier League starts as a result of those injuries appears to have proved costly.
Arsene Wenger had warned last August that “England will pay the price” for the winger’s lack of a pre-season after his controversial selection, against his club manager’s wishes, for the under-21s in the European Championships in Sweden last summer.
Walcott had featured in the final of that tournament on June 29th, with his involvement eating into his preparations for the domestic season.
Former England defender Alan Mullery felt Walcott’s failure to improve over the last year cost him his place. “I didn’t think Capello would pick Theo Walcott because he doesn’t seem to have improved over the last year or so.”
Confirmation of Barry’s inclusion was expected and hugely welcome for Capello, whose side have become reliant upon the Manchester City midfielder in the holding role.
The 29-year-old underwent a strenuous series of tests on his injured ankle in London yesterday with England’s medical staff satisfied that he will be able to play a part in light training in Rustenburg this week.
Capello, whose squad depart for South Africa this afternoon, is confident Barry will be available to join his team-mates fully some 24 hours after England’s opening Group C fixture, against the USA on June 12th, with Steven Gerrard or Michael Carrick to deputise in the deeper central role for that first game.
Guardian Service
England's 23-man squad
Goalkeepers:Green (West Ham Utd), Hart (Manchester City), James (Portsmouth).
Defenders:Carragher (Liverpool), A Cole (Chelsea), R Ferdinand (Manchester Utd), G Johnson (Liverpool), King (Tottenham), Terry (Chelsea), Upson (West Ham Utd), Warnock (Aston Villa).
Midfielders:Barry (Manchester City), Carrick (Manchester Utd), J Cole (Chelsea), Gerrard (Liverpool), Lampard (Chelsea), Lennon (Tottenham), Milner (Aston Villa), Wright-Phillips (Manchester City).
Forwards:Crouch (Tottenham), Defoe (Tottenham), Heskey (Aston Villa), Rooney (Manchester Utd).
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