Blow for Defoe

England head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has named his provisional 23-man squad for the World Cup finals, taking a gamble on Arsenal teenager Theo Walcott and including the unfit Wayne Rooney.

Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips and Spurs duo Ledley King and Jermain Defoe are the most notable absentees, while Tottenham youngster Aaron Lennon and Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing are included.

Eriksson said of his choice of Walcott: "I thought about it a lot in the last month, I know it's a gamble but he has great talent.

"With Rooney we must wait and hope and see."

Squad - Goalkeepers: Paul Robinson (Spurs), David James (Manchester City), Robert Green (Norwich City).

Defenders: Gary Neville (Manchester United), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), John Terry (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Arsenal), Sol Campbell (Arsenal), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Wayne Bridge (Chelsea).

Midfielders: David Beckham (Real Madrid), Michael Carrick (Spurs), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jenas (Spurs), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Aaron Lennon (Spurs).

Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Michael Owen (Newcastle United), Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Theo Walcott (Arsenal).

On stand-by: Scott Carson (Liverpool), Luke Young (Charlton Athletic), Nigel Reo-Coker (West Ham), Jermain Defoe (Spurs), Andrew Johnson (Crystal Palace).