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stellazio SG

Lennon and Walcott get shock England call-ups

England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson admitted he only decided this morning to name 17-year-old Arsenal forward Theo Walcott in his provisional 23-man World Cup squad.

RossKinnaird/GettyImages
Aaron Lennon: Another surprise choice by Sven for England.

Eriksson has included Walcott, who has yet to make a Premiership appearance for Arsenal, in his squad alongside Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney and Aaron Lennon - but there are no places for Ledley King, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Jermaine Defoe or Darren Bent.

Walcott has not played first-team football since his £12million move from Southampton in January but is regarded as one of the hottest talents in the game and Eriksson has decided to include him in his squad.

Eriksson admitted he was taking a gamble and when asked when he made up his mind about Walcott he said: 'Finally this morning. I thought a lot about it during the last month.

'It is a gamble, of course it is a gamble I can't deny that but it is a nice one. He is a great talent. I have 23 players, why not take one gambling?'

Manchester United forward Rooney's broken metatarsal is expected to rule him out of the start of the tournament but Eriksson decided to gamble on his talisman's fitness as expected.

Owen's prolonged recovery from a similar injury has severely limited his match practice and he will head to the finals having played only 31 minutes for his club since December 31.

The tournament begins in Germany in 32 days with England's first match against Paraguay a day later on June 10.

Goalkeeper Scott Carson, Charlton right-back Luke Young, Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe, West Ham captain Nigel Reo-Coker and Crystal Palace forward Andrew Johnson have been named on Eriksson's standby list.

Eriksson will submit his final squad next Monday.

Lennon has enjoyed an excellent first season in the Premiership since joining Tottenham from Leeds in the summer with his explosive skills and developing maturity.

Wright-Phillips has been left out after a disappointing season which has seen his first-team opportunities limited since joining Chelsea from Manchester City last season.

Downing's inclusion rounds off a turbulent season for the left-winger which has been largely marred by injury, before his return to fitness which culminates on Wednesday when Middlesbrough face Sevilla in the UEFA Cup final.

King is struggling to recover from injury - also a fractured metatarsal - while Defoe has spent much of the season on the bench for Tottenham.

Eriksson admitted selecting Walcott is a bold move.

'It's a big gamble, I know it is. I am excited to see him, he's a big talent. And pace in football today is worth a lot. I spoke to Arsene Wenger (Arsenal manager) and he's excited as well, very much so.

'For me it's a good squad, an interesting squad. There are some new players, some young players and it is an attacking squad with a lot of pace which is necessary in a World Cup.'

Asked how he decided on his selection, in particular leaving out the likes of Bent and Defoe, Eriksson said: 'Probably not too logically, sometimes you do it on feelings as well and I am excited about Theo Walcott.

'It would be absolutely crazy if I didn't pick Rooney when there is still a possibility he can play in the World Cup.'

More to follow...

Goalkeepers: Robinson (Tottenham), James (Manchester City), Green (Norwich)

Defenders: G Neville (Manchester United), R Ferdinand (Manchester United), Terry (Chelsea), A Cole (Arsenal), Campbell (Arsenal), Carragher (Liverpool), Bridge (Chelsea)

Midfielders: Beckham (Real Madrid), Carrick (Tottenham), Lampard (Chelsea), Gerrard (Liverpool), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Jenas (Totenham), Downing (Middlesbrough), J Cole (Chelsea), Lennon (Tottenham)

Forwards: Rooney (Manchester United), Owen (Newcastle), Crouch (Liverpool), Walcott (Arsenal).

Standby players: Scott Carson, Luke Young, Nigel Reo-Coker, Jermain Defoe, Andy Johnson.

Blitz_Gundam SG

Sven is ‘CRAZY’!!!!!!!!!

R3SsH|n SG

lennon yes...walcott.... Rolling Eyes

stellazio SG

sven really like cannot decide on his own leh..always give in to media and peer(managers) pressure..

stellazio SG

sven is like bringing 2 unfit players? Rolling Eyes

dinky1409 SG

Got Dean Ashton also not bad mah.. Walcott eh? Just hope he become a damn miracle in WC lah.. Got speed? Good, just hope he can finish liao if not England finish already liao...
Aaron Lennon, not bad leh. Downing also. Jenas also. Richardson also. Mr. Green

stellazio SG

Eriksson: I haven't seen walcott play

Sven-Goran Eriksson admits he may have made the biggest gamble of his entire football career by taking teenager Theo Walcott to the World Cup.

Eriksson has never seen Arsenal's young striker play a game - except on videotape - and has barely spoken a word to him.

Walcott, 17, has not even made his debut for the Gunners and has never played a Premiership game.

But Eriksson is ready to make him England's youngest international footballer because is convinced he can handle the pressure and terrify defenders with his pace.

Eriksson said: 'Maybe it is my biggest, bravest, boldest gamble. It is a bit of a gamble.

'If you take a 17-year-old boy to the World Cup of course you cannot be sure.

'The feeling is that he is ready for it. I don't think he will be nervous or feel the pressure.

'We have spoken to a lot of people who have had him before. I think he can cope with it, handle it.'

Walcott will be the second youngest player in World Cup history if he gets on the pitch in Germany.

Norman Whiteside played for Northern Ireland in Spain 1982, aged 17 years and 41 days.

Walcott cannot beat Whiteside's record but he can beat Pele, who played in Sweden in 1958 at 17 years and 236 days.

Eriksson's chief scout Tord Grip went to watch Walcott play for Arsenal reserves in an unofficial match today.

He played 90 minutes for an Arsenal under-21 team against an Irish under-21 team. The Gunners won 2-1 but he did not score.

The England boss has only seen him at work in a couple of training sessions but, with Wayne Rooney facing a fight to be fit, decided it was worth a punt on Walcott's electric pace and raw talent.

Eriksson said: 'I have seen him on videos a lot but never in the flesh. Tord went to see him today playing for the reserves.

'I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago. I said hello after a training session.'

Eriksson had to rely on a glowing reference from Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who bought Walcott from Southampton in January in a deal which could rise to £12million.

Wenger insisted the youngster has the right temperament.

Eriksson said: 'I have not been able to go and see him playing in the Premiership so, of course, I spoke a lot to Arsene Wenger about it.

'In this case, what Arsene Wenger said was more important than with all the other players.'

Eriksson admitted he did not make a final decision on Walcott until just hours before he unveiled his 23-man squad in London today.

The Swede made shock selections with uncapped Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon, 19, and Middlesbrough's Stewart Downing, 21, both making the list.

The biggest surprise he saved until last and the 23rd name on the list confirmed the rumour that Walcott was in.

Eriksson said: 'I decided this morning. He has pace, a little bit like Lennon and Downing.

'He can beat people. Having people like that on the bench could be very good.'

The England boss admitted he never considered picking Walcott for the friendly against Uruguay in March.

But suddenly, after Rooney broke his foot, he decided he had to take an extra striker.

Walcott got the nod ahead of Jermain Defoe and Andrew Johnson, who are both on standby, and Darren Bent, who has missed out completely.

Eriksson confirmed he will give Walcott a taste of international football in one of the three warm-up games before the squad flies to their World Cup base in Germany.

His first appearance is likely to be in the B international against Belarus, at Reading, on May 25.

Walcott could also play in one of the friendlies against Hungary and Jamaica and that would make him the country's youngest international footballer.

Rooney, who currently holds that record, played against Australia in 2003 at the age of 17 years, 111 days.

Walcott will be 17 years, 75 days when England take on Hungary at Old Trafford on May 30.

stellazio SG

my goodness..never even seen him play.. Rolling Eyes

ghimpheng SG

x999 rather take marlon harewood,Deah ashton,darren bent,James Beattie or Jermain Defoe..........Rather than Theo Walcott which has not make any senior apperance for Arsenal and is only 17 and lack of Experience and can't adapt to the world cup big stages so fast.......................england strikers look rather weak...........if only they recruited 2 or 3 of the above stated leaving out rooney because he is clearly injured,give him time to rest..........

JLennon SG

Its a brave selection - Walcott and Lennon, and by Eriksson's own admission, a gamble.

I cannot understand how an international coach like him can pick Walcott, a player whom he has never watched him play, a player who has yet to turn up in Arsenal's colours in the EPL and a player who is still uncapped. The FA pays Eriksson 4m quid annually and he better make sure that its a right decision. I still think Defoe is fitter and a more suitable candidate.

Herroin SG

For him, it is like whats there to lose? anyway he is leaving after world cup anyway, so must as well gamble big Laughing hopely walcott would the shocker of world cup then haha

tarcki SG

Lets just hope walcott will be another Rooney in Euro 2004 or Owen in world cup 98. Very Happy

lpx88 SG

lennon yes....at least he's played games and impressed...judging a player from videos cant tell you alot and biased Rolling Eyes ..wad if only show him playin on form for a few matches?generally flop or gem erikson hav no idea and yet still take him coz wenger says so i'm glad downing is in though..

stellazio SG

walcott has only been capped at under 17 level..what a big jump..but maybe lets hope his pace and finishing ability will be the real shocker of the world cup.. Laughing

used SG

walcott ahead of bent and defoe. Shocked Shocked

i would even prefer ashton.

SGE must be hoping walcott could do a Pele.