It was the day that all England fans had been waiting for as Head Coach Roy Hodgson had the unenviable job of picking 23 men to take to the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
The 66 year old has tried to select a squad with youth and little experience with Luke Shaw, Raheem Sterling and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain selected with the experience coming from England veterans Frank Lampard and captain Steven Gerrard. Only six of the men in this 23 man squad have experience of playing in the World Cup so this is a real transitional period for England’s elite squad.
The big exclusions to this years squad were Ashley Cole, Ashley Young and Kyle Walker. Cole had used social media to confirm that Hodgson had called him and that he had agreed that it was time for the new blood to have their chance at left back. Cole has now retired with an impressive 107 caps under his belt and has claimed his stake as one of England’s greatest ever left backs. The Tottenham right back Walker was deemed to not be fit enough and Ashley Young hasn’t had a great season at Manchester United.
The squad is midfield heavy and only one recognised right back in the form of Glen Johnson so it would be expected that Phil Jones or Chris Smalling will cover that position if needed.
Hodgson has selected seven people to stay on hold as standby players and these men are; John Ruddy, John Stones, John Flanagan, Tom Cleverley, Michael Carrick and two strikers in the form of Andy Carroll and Jermain Defoe.
Rickie Lambert’s inclusion has a Hollywood movie feel to it as Lambert had 35 goals in all competitions to help Southampton’s promotion to the Championship from League One just four years ago. Four years later and he’s celebrating his place in England’s World Cup squad. Lambert has worked hard for this position and has been a prolific scorer in the Premier League and the Football League.
England will now over the next few weeks play three friendlies against; Peru, Ecuador and Honduras before setting off to Brazil to play Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica in the group stages.
Complete England World Cup Squad;
Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion), Fraser Forster (Celtic)
Defenders: Luke Shaw (Southampton), Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Chris Smalling (Manchester United)
Midfielders: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Adam Lallana (Southampton), James Milner (Manchester City), Ross Barkley (Everton), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool)
Strikers: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Rickie Lambert (Southampton), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United)
Standby List; John Ruddy (Norwich), John Stones (Everton), John Flanagan (Liverpool), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Andy Carroll (West Ham), Jermain Defore (Toronto FC)