So Fabio Capello has finally announced his squad of 23 men, 23 English men, with the hopes of a nation riding on their shoulders, that will be flying from the UK to represent England in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Fabio Capello

The headlines will be full of the absence on Theo Walcott. But lets be honest, he has been poor this season, and poor for England for quite a while. Aaron Lennon should be the first choice left winger with Joe Cole a worthy replacement. Ledley King also makes the cut despite long term injury worries, another great call in my opinion as he has been one of the best (if not the best) defenders in the Premiership last season. His Tottenham co defender Michael Dawson misses out on a place on the flight, but to be honest he did have a great season, but perhaps this is a bit beyond him.

So far so good. but he did make a very poor call in my opinion. Do we seriously live in a country that chooses a 32 yr old Emile Heskey as one of it’s elite athletes? Darren Bent had a great season, and although rarely performed for England, he is surely better than Heskey. God help us if he actually gets picked over Rooney, Defoe and Crouch. Here is the full list of the 23 men that have perhaps the best chance of winning the World Cup since the legendary team of 66. Don’t let us down boys.

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).