• World Cup

Hodgson picks Barkley with Carrick missing out

ESPN staff
May 12, 2014
Roy Hodgson insists there is enough experience in his squad to give them a chance of winning the World Cup © Getty Images
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Roy Hodgson has included Ross Barkley in his 23-man World Cup squad with Manchester United's Michael Carrick missing out.

Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling and Southampton trio Adam Lallana, Luke Shaw and Rickie Lambert also make the cut.

Hodgson has primarily opted for youth, with ten players in the squad under the age of 25.

Carrick and Andy Carroll are among the notable absentees, with both on the seven-player standby list, while Hodgson has also gambled on the fitness of Arsenal winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

England's 23-man World Cup squad

  • Goalkeepers: Forster, Foster, Hart
  • Defenders: Baines, Cahill, Jagielka, Johnson, Jones, Shaw, Smalling
  • Midfielders: Barkley, Gerrard, Henderson, Lallana, Lampard, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sterling, Wilshere
  • Forwards: Lambert, Rooney, Sturridge, Welbeck
  • On standby: Carrick, Carroll, Cleverley, Defoe, Flanagan, Ruddy, Stones
  • Click here for full profiles on all the squad

Jack Wilshere, who returned after two months out with a fractured foot for Arsenal on Sunday, is included among Hodgson's central midfielders along with Frank Lampard and Manchester City's James Milner.

Wayne Rooney also features in the squad despite missing the final three games of the season with a groin problem while Hodgson has also taken the striker's versatile Manchester United team-mate Phil Jones, who suffered a shoulder injury last week, with Ryan Giggs saying the pair would be be fine for Brazil.

Everton's 20-year-old midfielder Barkley, who made his England debut in the 4-0 World Cup qualifying win over Moldova, has enjoyed a breakthrough season under Roberto Martinez at Goodison Park.

Sterling, 19, is also rewarded for a fine season with Liverpool, who finished runners-up to champions City, and is one of five Liverpool players along with Steven Gerrard, Daniel Sturridge, Glen Johnson and Jordan Henderson to be included, though full-back Jon Flanagan has to settle for a place on the standby list along with Everton's 19-year-old defender John Stones.

Shaw, as expected, is included with Ashley Cole announcing his retirement from international football on Sunday night after being told by Hodgson over the phone he had not made the 23-man squad.

Southampton left-back Shaw, 18, is on the verge of a £25 million move to Manchester United after a superb season which saw him make his senior international debut in March's 1-0 win over Denmark at Wembley, having coming up through the England youth ranks.

Hodgson has also picked Southampton captain Lallana, who is set to seal a £20m move to Liverpool this week, after a similarly impressive campaign that saw him nominated for the PFA Player of the Year award.

Lallana, 26, made his England debut in the 2-0 home defeat to Chile and earned his second and third caps against Germany and Denmark, against whom he set up Daniel Sturridge's second-half winner.

Carrick is among those to miss out, with United team-mate Tom Cleverley another on standby, while Ashley Young is shunned altogether.

Carrick, 32, was also overlooked by Hodgson for Euro 2012 despite an outstanding season, but neither he nor Cleverley can have any complaints after poor campaigns with United finishing seventh in the Premier League.

Tottenham right-back Kyle Walker is another casualty, having not played for Spurs since March 13 due to a pelvic injury.

However Hodgson has picked Oxlade-Chamberlain, who hasn't featured since the 3-0 win over Hull on April 20 due to a groin problem and is struggling to be fit for the FA Cup final.

Lambert has been included at the expense of West Ham striker Carroll, who has struggled for form with only two goals in 16 appearances during a season blighted by injury.

Hodgson had shown faith in Carroll by taking him to Euro 2012 despite a similarly poor season with Liverpool in 2011-12, though he misses out this time along with striker Jermain Defoe, who left Tottenham for MLS side Toronto in March, also on the standby list.

Lambert has excelled for Southampton this season and scored the winner on his England debut against Scotland in August before scoring in the 4-0 World Cup qualifying win over Moldova.

Celtic's Fraser Forster and West Brom's Ben Foster are chosen as back-up to Joe Hart, with Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy on standby.

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