England squad for World Cup announced

Does anything stand out as anything particuarly controversial in this selection?

Well yeah, just a few. for varying reasons though..

Theo Walcott

An outstanding prospect he may be, but the 17 year-old hasn't even played a single minute of the Premiership, let alone European or tournament level football. That may work to his advantage and he'll burst onto the biggest stage of all to announce his presence as a new superstar of football. It worked for others like Michael Owen in '98....except he already had plenty of first-team experience for Liverpool. Odds are the inclusion of Walcott into the squad during the tournament will amount to nothing more than watching from the sidelines, although the opportunity is there if injuries and the like open the way into the team for him. What does Sven say?

"I decided to take Theo this morning," Eriksson explained. "I am taking 23 players so I thought why not gamble with one of them? I know it is a gamble but he is a big talent. Pace in football is worth a lot. I'm excited by him, I can't wait to work with him." Maybe it's not logic, but sometimes things work out very well."

Fair enough I suppose.

Aaron Lennon

Sven says, "He has pace, he beats people and he's a good crosser. In the last two or three months he's really started to play good football. I've had good reports about him. He's in very good shape."

The Tottenham midfielder has seized his chance at the club this season and probably deserves his place in the squad, although it would have been advantageous to have seen Lennon in an international to see how readily (Or not) he would take to the bigger stage.

If anyone has the ability to make a mark at the World Cup from a completely standing start, then Lennon seems to have the most in his favour, followed by Stewart Downing, who has at least been capped for England previously and is due to play in this week's UEFA Cup final.

But onto the most controversial selection of all...

Owen Hargreaves

He's absolutely shit! How he has managed to gain the number of England caps he has is beyond the understanding of most England fans. Must be something Sven see's in the Bayern player, as past experience tells the fan that Hargreaves, although full of running, doesn't appear to contribute much. Not even in that understated Makalale way of shielding the defence. Hargreaves just tends to run around a lot aimlessly. It probably doesn't help that Sven likes to use him as an all-purpose utility player to bring on when England are chasing a lead, as anyone but the Swede could tell you hargreaves won't score or create chances.

Baffling.

Looks like England will be playing for one-nil victories all the way up until the final, when wonderboy Rooney may be fit enough to make an appearance.