England coach Fabio Capello has sprung a big surprise by leaving Theo Walcott out of his World Cup squad, but Shaun Wright-Phillips, Stephen Warnock and Joe Cole have got the nod.
Walcott made the headlines four years ago when then-boss Sven Goran Eriksson included him in his 23 for the World Cup in Germany, despite the fact he had hardly figured for Arsenal and never played for England.
The youngster did not make it on to the pitch back in 2006 and he will not be stepping out in South Africa either after Capello decided to leave him out.
The news does come as a surprise as Walcott played a key role in helping England qualify and he looked a certainty to be named in the squad when he scored a hat-trick as the Three Lions romped to a 4-1 victory in Croatia.
Since then the winger has struggled for fitness and form and he failed to convince Capello in the games against Mexico and Japan that he was worthy of a place on the plane.
Walcott’s final delivery came in for heavy criticism and it seems as though that could have been the deciding factor.
Capello has opted to go with Shaun Wright-Phillips, who hardly played for Manchester City in the second half of the season as he was kept out of the side at Eastlands by Adam Johnson, who has amazingly been left out of Capello’s 23.
Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole is another player to have survived the cull despite only just returning to full fitness, but it is easy to see why Capello has included him.
In the striking department, Sunderland forward Darren Bent, who banged in 24 goals for the Black Cats last season, has been left out of the squad, while Emile Heskey who managed just three goals for Aston Villa and was kept out of the side by John Carew, gets the nod.
It is argued that Heskey would complement Wayne Rooney, who is 10/1 to finish the tournament as the top goalscorer, more but that will not wash with Bent who will be left wondering what elese he could have done to get into the squad.
It also means that Capello will just be taking four strikers in the form of Rooney, Heskey, Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch, when many believe you should take five.
Elsewhere, decisions had to be made at the back with Warnock getting the nod ahead of Leighton Baines, while Ledley King made it ahead of his Spurs team-mate Michael Dawson.
Capello has also confirmed that Gareth Barry will be fit enough to be included despite struggling with ankle ligament damage that could force him to miss the opening game against the USA.