England Squad announced

This is the official squad....

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), David James (Portsmouth), Robert Green (West Ham).

Defenders: Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Ledley King (Tottenham), John Terry (Chelsea), Matthew Upson (West Ham), Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa).

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), James Milner (Aston Villa), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City).

Forwards: Peter Crouch (Tottenham), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)

No Walcott is probably the biggest surprise, but even odder is the fact that Adam Johnson also didn't make the cut, I would have thought that one of those two would have made the squad. No real surprise to see that Leighton Baines didn't make it this time, he did not have a great game last week against Mexico, Warnock and Cole will look after the left side of defence adequately I am sure. Barry makes the squad despite recent injury, the full list of those that didn't make it is as follows:

• Walcott
• Johnson (Adam)
• Dawson
• Baines
• Bent
• Huddlestone
• Parker

The last game to be played before England meet the USA in the real competition will be a freindly against local South African side Platinum All-Stars, I am not sure whether this will be broadcast anywhere - If I find that it is, I may post details here...
Beckham's role is as yet unclear - maybe this will become clear when the players get to South Africa and settle in - We understand that he has been coaching Walcott in crossing techniques, but it seems like the coaching did not pay off.