England squad

Um, did that man actully say that he only takes players who play regularly and are in form? Look at the list and it is all "safe" choices (i.e., big names) with quite some players starting maybe less than half of the matches for their clubs, even when not injured. When I looked at the starting line-up against Mexico, it felt very refreshing, and for one moment I thought he would really ditch "the system" developed around Rooney-Gerrard-Lampard (who invented it anyway?), otherwise known as put-in-11-star-players-first-and-then-work-out-a-formation. But I quickly realised it is just a friendly, in a real match he is likely to revert to the tried and tested system which has been proven to give you partial, and only partial, success.

As for individual player selection:

Heskey: By dropping Bent they now officially bring three strikers to the World Cup. I mean, one of them score even fewer goals than the Columbian goalkeeper Higuita or the Paraguay Chilavert, how can you seriously count him as strikers...

Walcott: But never mind, in 2002 they also bring effectively three strikers since there was never any real intention to use Walcott anyway. He is a tragedy, really; had he not included in the 2002 squad, and hence not under that much spotlight and ridicule, there might just be a chance for him to develop into a better player. Given that SWP seems to play rather well at the national level, perhaps Walcott's exclusion is justifiable. (Btw, if I'm not mistaken, he was a striker, not a winger. Why do some Premier League managers seem to always fashion strikers into midfielders (Walcott, Kuyt, Babel)? )

A Johnson: should be given a chance really.

Parker and Huddlestone: these are poor people included in the preliminary squad only to make up the numbers.

Dawson: a pity, can't figure out any reason why Upson is preferred.

Overall, the team feels more or less the same as in 2006, although less injury-worn. But still can't see this team going any deep.