England fans may have something to worry about. Manager Roy Hodgson has stated that he is not afraid to leave out big names from his 23-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Hodgson has to finalize the squad by 2nd June.
“I am very conscious that I could have to leave a big name out,” he said. “It wasn’t easy before the Euros, this time it will be even harder.”
Southampton‘s Luke Shaw and Liverpool‘s Raheem Sterling have been called up to the national team for England‘s game against Denmark on Tuesday. Ashley Cole, England’s most-capped left-back, could face serious competition from Everton‘s Leighton Baines and uncapped Shaw. Cole, 33, has not been a regular for Chelsea this season.
“Before the Euros at least I was choosing names of players I knew and players I had seen play but had never really worked with,” said the former West Brom manager Hodgson.
“This time I will have to disappoint some people I have worked with who have maybe done a good job for me and the team.”
The squad list for Tuesday’s game against Denmark includes Southampton striker Rickie Lambert and Everton midfielder Ross Barkley.
Gareth Barry, who has been phenomenal this season for Everton, is the most experienced amongst the squad for Tuesday.
“This is not a definitive list,” Hodgson added. “The fact someone is on this list does not say he will be going or be one of the seven standby players because I reserve the right to change my mind on those subjects.”
With Theo Walcott already set to miss the tournament due to an injury, it would be interesting to see who makes it to the final squad list for the World Cup.
England squad:
Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Celtic), Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Hart (Manchester City), John Ruddy (Norwich City).
Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Steven Caulker (Cardiff City), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Luke Shaw (Southampton), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur).
Midfielders: Ross Barkley (Everton), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Southampton), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal).
Forwards: Jermain Defoe (Toronto FC), Rickie Lambert (Southampton), Jay Rodriguez (Southampton), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Daniel Welbeck (Manchester United).
Source: bbc
