Defence: Sol Campbell gets in of course and was assumed by all the papers to be a ‘definite’ prior to Sven’s announcement. Injuries have restricted him this year, but in the games he has played he’s looked very suspect. Forwards like West Ham’s Bobby Zamora and Wigan’s Jason Roberts have exposed Campbell’s lack of form, so there will be a few strikers at the World Cup who would fancy their chances against him. I would have felt safer with Wes Brown providing cover for Terry and Ferdinand.

Midfield: England may seem a bit overloaded with midfield resources, but I imagine that Owen Hargreaves is included as, inter alia, a potential replacement full-back. The inclusion of Aaron Lennon and Stewart Downing is positive and progressive. Lennon has been in great form and will provide some real attacking verve, whilst Downing is a genuine left-sided midfielder/winger. Both increase the scope of England’s attacking possibilities, and could be just the type of player required if we are chasing a game. I think Jenas is also a worthy inclusion – with two impact substitutes selected and Hargreaves covering the full-back slot, the midfield needs a pragmatic option who can help to shore-up a tight game.

Attack: It is here that England’s problems quite obviously reside. Rooney and Owen are injured and won’t be at full fitness even if they do make it onto a German football pitch. And of course we have the selection of Theo Walcott – the 17 year old who is apparently so precocious that his club manager Arsene Wenger hasn’t played him for a single minute. History will be Sven’s judge, but Walcott looks a mighty strange choice. If we had a full strength squad his inclusion might be regarded as an emblem of our strength and depth – making the statement that we are so strong we can accommodate the luxury of an untried teenage striker. But in the present circumstances it looks like desperation. With Rooney and Owen limping into the tournament, our attacking personnel includes two unfit players - and a 17 year old who has impressed in training! Defoe has had a fairly disappointing season for Tottenham, Bent failed to impress on his England debut, and the other contenders are perhaps not currently up to international standard – but surely we need to go with a fitter and stronger strike force than the one selected. Crouch (who was supposed to be Plan B) is now our most important forward.

Conclusion: If we play 4-5-1 with our midfield heavyweights properly organised, this could still be a big tournament for England: a fully functioning ability-laden midfield could just about compensate for our two-parts unfit, one-part untested strike quartet. But if we play 4-4-2 with the midfield’s potential impact neutered, then I just can’t be bothered - I’m going to support a team which has at least some chance of winning, like Switzerland or Ecuador!

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