. Will Theo Walcott be given a start at this World Cup?
550214
Sure hope so! I hope Erikkson includes him in the final squad. I agree that it'd be a risk, but I believe in Wenger.\nWenger says the lad has it, & I think he should start a few & score for England!
1171164
England:- if they win this game they qualify the group stages, but after a poor performance against paraguy they need to up there game. It is looking like Wayne Rooney Englands best striker will play some of the match but not all 90 minutes. Failing that Theo Wallcot is likely to come on.\n\nT&T:- Managed asuprise draw against sweden and have it all to play for especially when second place is deffinetely up for grabs
560978
cmon you soca warriors.i hope dwight yorke and the boys play really well in the world cup.i hope they beat sweden and paraquay,but not england,and that they qualify for the 2nr round.that would be a really fantastic  boost for football in the caribbean.
540779
Yes i think he will be fine before the world cup.\nYes Shevchenko's absence will be a big blow for Ukraine
517750
incredible decision by sven he should have picked defoe and put walcott on standby - the kid has no experience he hasn't even made his debut for arsenal - it makes no sense
671625
England's chances of winning the World Cup are hanging in the balance after Wayne Rooney yesterday become the latest big-name footballer to suffer a foot injury.\n\nThe 20-year-old striker - England's most influential player - was carried off the pitch on a stretcher when he fell badly on his right foot after 82 minutes of Manchester United's 3-0 defeat at Chelsea. Rooney was later seen getting on to United's team bus before they headed back to Manchester, where he was due to have a scan on his right foot and ankle.\n\nThe seriousness of his injury was unclear, but it sparked immediate fears that it will prevent him playing in some or all of England's games at this summer's World Cup in Germany, which starts on 9 June. David Beckham and his teammates play Paraguay in their opening game in Group B in Frankfurt in 40 days' time. The England manager, Sven Goran Eriksson, Football Association officials and millions of fans across the country are hoping that the prodigiously talented forward - who is the hub of the England team - has not suffered a broken metatarsal in his right foot, the same injury which forced him out of England's last major tournament, the 2004 European Championships in Portugal.\n\nRooney's involvement in the game yesterday ended when he fell awkwardly after a tackle by Chelsea's Portuguese defender, Paulo Ferreira. He lay on the ground, in obvious pain, for several minutes before being put on to a stretcher and carried away, to loud applause from both sets of fans.\n\nIronically, it was another Portuguese defender, Jorge Andrade, who caused Rooney's first foot injury when he trod on him in the Portugal-England quarter-final in Lisbon, which England later lost on penalties.\n\nSir Alex Ferguson, the United manager, declined to speculate on how serious the injury was. 'We don't know. We'll have to wait until we get to Manchester,' he said. 'He's being looked after and we'll see. When a player is taken off we're always concerned, but hopefully Wayne's is not a bad one. It's a sore one, but we'll just have to wait and see. There's no point in making assertions at the moment.'\n\nIf Rooney cannot play in Germany, his absence will seriously diminish England's chances of capturing the World Cup for the first time in 40 years. Bookmakers have made them second favourites behind holders Brazil, but without the talismanic Rooney they would lack much of their creativity, attacking prowess and capacity to surprise opponents.\n\nIf the worst is confirmed, it will be a heavy blow for Eriksson, who is already concerned about the fitness of England's other main striker, Newcastle United's Michael Owen. He broke a metatarsal during a match against Spurs last December and has not played since.\n\nThe Swede also has injury concerns about Arsenal defender Sol Campbell, Spurs utility player Ledley King, Arsenal left-back Ashley Cole and Rooney's United and England colleague Gary Neville, who also picked up an injury yesterday. So, too, did Chelsea captain John Terry - England's first choice centre-half - but neither his nor Neville's injuries are thought to endanger their chances of appearing in the World Cup.\n\nA lengthening list of high-profile English players have suffered a broken metatarsal in recent years. Beckham, the England captain, did so in April 2002 while playing for United and appeared for England in the World Cup in Japan and South Korea three months later, despite being not fully fit. Foot injuries are increasingly common in top-level football, and are particularly troublesome because they mean that someone who has one cannot put his weight comfortably on the foot concerned.\n\nEriksson has to submit a provisional list of 23 players for the World Cup to Fifa, football's world governing body, by 8 May, with a final list a week later. Rooney's predicament may cause him problems similar to t
906197
Arsenal are set to be without Gilberto as he has returned to Brazil to deal with a family matter. \n\nFreddie Ljungberg and Julio Baptista are both fit again, while goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has recovered from his heavy cold.\n\nLooks like he will.
569694
England's Theo Walcott -17 years old
1039637
I truly hope not. The tournament has been a disaster in relation to refereeing performances. You would hope that for the biggest match of the tournament at least, that FIFA could dig up someone with a degree of competence.
1065464
Good question!\n\nI am begining to wonder why Walcott has been picked at all, as Sven has yet to play him, despite having 2 sick-note strikers.  He's even used Joe Cole up front rather than giving Walcott a run.\n\nI believe Dein did have to much influence that has benifitted Arsenal recently, but I'm not to sure how much he had to do with Walcotts selection.  \n\nA quote from Graham Taylor on the England manager slection process:\n"I was under the impression Arsenal's vice-chairman David Dein wasn't on the selection committee at the start, and yet now he seems to be involved. \n\nBut could he be objective if asked about the credentials of his current club manager Arsene Wenger? \n\nNow maybe it is that Dein has asked Wenger and he doesn't want to do it - but if that's the case, why not say so publicly?"
597973
England will win their group most certainly.  I think whoever steps in for Rooney (i.e. Darren Bent, Crouch, Defoe, or even Joe Cole) could step in for him admirably.  He is a great player, but his absence should make the players still around play that much harder!  Keep in mind they have Owen, Gerrard, Lampard, and Joe Cole, guys who never seem to have a hard time finding the net when it is necessary!  I think they will get to at least the quarterfinals, but I am pulling for them to go all the way.
430142
Ferdinand for England...might just be one but it will be costly because it will most likely be in the 2nd or 3rd round.Against a strong team like Italy,reason I say that because Totti will show up this WC,unlike his last ones where he has disappointed everyone.He is going to play with a chip on his shoulder after the injury he had this season,he can't be stopped.
1042613
YES!!!!!......especially rooney!....he must play(hope his foot is cure enough 2 play)....
496662
If all what I hear is true, then he certainly has the potential to be the hero.  He is very young, unknown and there is no pressure on him, unlike if Rooney was fit and playing.  There will be a lot expected of Rooney if and when he plays.  Theo doesnot have this pressure, he has nothing to lose.
662309
It's almost been 24 hours and I still can't believe this.  Shaun Wright Phillips is left off the squad.  Defoe is on the reserve squad...but Walcott is on the starting squad.  Gamble or dumb move?  I think it's a dumb move.  Here in the states, Bruce Arena is smart enough to leave Freddie Adu out this year....because he is too young with too little experience.  But the Swede selects Walcott.  Unbelievable!  Total slap in the face to SWP.
314006
I think that England is fully prepared to win the World Cup. They have a strong keeper in Robinson, and the attack and pace of Rooney and Owen up front would give any team trouble in Germany, with Crouch giving Erickson a different option to strike at goal. The midfield of Beckham, Gerrad, Lampard and Joe Cole can control the game at will. The best part of this team is its defence, although Ferdinand needs to get better, but the way that Man U is playing right now, he seems to be on the upside now. Barring an injury to Campbell, Terry, or Cole, Jamie Carragher can fill in at any of the four spots in the back and the defence will still be strong.
1067422
Can't realistically see him playing against Trinidad and Tabago, unless it's just for a few minutes. However the way Michael Owen is palying at the moment we need someone to support Crouchy at the front.