Gareth Southgate has dropped Theo Walcott from his first squad as permanent England manager.
Having been overlooked by Sam Allardyce, the Arsenal striker returned to the international fold under Southgate for the November games with Scotland and Spain.
Having scored three goals in his last four appearances for the Gunners Walcott had been expected to keep his place in the England setup but drops out to make way for 34-year-old Jermain Defoe, selected for the first time since 2013.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is the only representative from the Emirates to make the cut.
England play Germany in a friendly in Dortmund on 22 March before facing Lithuania in a World Cup qualifier at Wembley four days later.
On the plus side for Theo, today is his 28th birthday. Many happy returns.
Full squad
Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Southampton), Joe Hart (Torino, on loan from Man City), Tom Heaton (Burnley)
Defenders: Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Man Utd), Michael Keane (Burnley), Luke Shaw (Man Utd), Chris Smalling (Man Utd), John Stones (Man City), Kyle Walker (Tottenham)
Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham), Michail Antonio (West Ham), Ross Barkley (Everton), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Jesse Lingard (Man Utd), Jake Livermore (West Brom), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Nathan Redmond (Southampton), Raheem Sterling (Man City), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton)
Strikers: Jermain Defoe (Sunderland), Marcus Rashford (Man Utd), Jamie Vardy (Leicester)
As long as it keeps Walcott on his toes, fine by me.
If it keeps him healthy it’s fine by me but i feel for him since he probably wants in , no English person has scored more than he has from a wide position. And only 2 have scored more counting all competitions.
I think a temporary change of scene would have helped our beleaguered bunch of underachievers. But then we got them matches coming in thick and fast. So Theo stay at home, sip on some of dat coffee and get angrier and hungrier.
Where’s the f****** justice in that? It’s like saying …”you passed your exam but was still failed. Fine by me.”
Okay Walcott is not a striker anymore but if you going to pick Redmond and Lingard ahead of Walcott…??? Wow wtf
I’d retire if i was him, not worth the hassle and clearly after scoring 100 goals from wide at a similar games per goals ratio to eden hazzard (with numerous assists i imagine), then getting dropped for lingard and redmond is a kick in the teeth. Has either even played champions league football?
Walcott should consider dropping the national team altogether. They regularly do not pick him for World cup and Euros. Come on Walcott vs Defoe (34), even in his prime Defoe wasn’t that better than Walcott. What’s the thinking around picking Defoe, future? Testimonial ?
Southgate is the man,Redmond is now a player we wished Theo was,but most of us don’t watch Sutton. Theo should understand that football is not linear as he thinks
These strikers are a joke. WTF happened to England?
? Was thinking same. Look at the squad in general. To say it was poor would be an understatement.
Jake bloody Livermore!!!!!
Someone’s gotta clean em latrines
England hasn’t been a world footballing power since the late 1960s.
Mismanagement and giant egos get in the way, and when they’re so scrutinized by the press, well, it’s a recipe for disaster.
Mad how Theo keep getting overlooked by England. Its not even like England are even good. Ah well that’s good for us.
Also, is Jack injured or has he not impressed after being so desperate to showcase himself week by week in Bournemouth?
Why are so many approving such an unnecessary spiteful comment
Spite is the new Arsenal way haven’t you heard? Catch some ArsenalFanTV…
He has been average every time i have seen him but he probably still has his bag of tricks and can raise his game in the right environment . Odd selections but really who cares?
How Southgate can manage to include Rashford, Ward-Prowse, Redmond, Livermore, and Lingard and not include Walcott, who has 17 goals this season and more than all of these guys combined, is unfrocking believable. It makes no sense. I am so angry. And Luke Shaw, who’s played like three games all season, makes it ahead of Gibbs? What the actual fuck. I know Wilshere has had a mediocre season, but surely he is better than Livermore? I’m done.
I’m not angry at all, I’ve accepted England were shite a long time ago. I mean, come on! Gareth Southgate, England manager? You’re having a laugh
Rashford is the only one I’d have in the squad (or at Arsenal for that matter). Redmond? Livermore?!?! Do me a favour
It looks to me like he’s picked lots of players he managed at the u21 level, and then the usual useless morons from United and spuds.
The Ox should just stay behind to rest well his injury… COYG
LOLZ at Jake Livermore and Michail Antonio.
Jack has GOT to be injured.
I’d rather he’s out of England games and stays rested, fit and motivated for us than going there and being run into the ground or injuring himself.
What a shocking squad. Maybe he wants no one to have any expectations and see if that approach works! This is the first time England actually look like a 2nd rate side.
One of the worst England squads I’ve ever ever seen, feel sorry that Ox has to be anywhere near this shower. Southgate will be just as hapless as his predecessor, what a sorry state of affairs
One would think there’s a both better and younger English striker available than Defoe. Surely?
Yes Theo Walcott
Don’t forget Welbeck!
“Having scored three goals in his last four appearances for the Gunners”
Two of those games were against non league teams!
And his usual inconsistent form for us. Can’t blame Southgate for dropping him. But like I said before there must be better and younger strikers around than Defoe. Welbeck for example.
Walcott has done more than Ox this season surely. He’s having a better season than I can remember. Not setting the world on fire but he’s got more goals this season and run into fewer defenders.
Aye he’s been good this season. He started well anyway and still pokes to odd goal in but it can’t be denied that his form comes and goes with a lot of going much of the time.
who is having a better season in his position in the prem? i’d say Hazzard, Pedro.
I don’t disagree with you that he goes missing, but what English winger is having a better season in terms of goals and assists this season? Raheem Sterlin? def not Lingard or Redmond
Haven’t really kept up with other wingers but Hazard would be one that springs to mind. Sterling seems similar in being pacey as hell but on and off form wise. Difference between the two to my eye is that Sterling starts deep and loses the ball 9 times out of 10 whereas Theo comes in and pokes a nice cross into goal at lightning speed. Sometimes with great skill. That goal against Bayern for example. Fucking hell what a shot! How about Lalana? Most times I’ve seen him he tends to miss the goal or fumble in the last yard… Read more »
Well, the match against Germany is for training, and, really, Lithuania should not be a real obstacle (I know, Iceland). So, this is a chance for Southgate to look at players, like Shaw, who would not otherwise feature. Still, this is not a side to interest supporters, let alone to inspire or excite them.
One of those goals was also a screamer against Bayern Munich so what’s your point exactly?
What a strange squad.
Watch Southgate play Ox with a tight hamstring, and he’s out injured until May.
Why you jinxing it, man. Not cool.
At the Arse, Ox is the new Cazorla.
He goes nowhere…….you fuckin hear me? Nowhere.
Gareth Southgate is deluded imo!
You have to go by current form and to be honest no one at Arsenal deserves a call up – was surprised a little by Oxlade Chamberlain’s call up as he doesn’t deserve one..
Pretty strange when hes just found a little form. Almost as strange as picking Shaw who literally can’t buy a game. Nice to see the England team being as weird as ever.
International football is so boring now. Especially qualifiers. I have been to the last two Euros and the matches get diluted by teams knowing they can get through with a load of drawers and dead rubber matches. Zzzz
Yep, Portugal won the whole thing without really winning a single game.
And still I watch it like obsessed when its going on..
I’d rather Theo rest up, but considering he’s actually been our best player (along with a currently injured Ox) over the last couple weeks I’m really surprised by this. Come to think of it, I’m actually more surprised given the Ox is injured – it’s not a tournament squad with limited numbers
Bizarre decision. On the form of his career, but not good enough for England????
This manager is a Joke, dropped Walcott for lingard.
Very average players all of them, not one could get into a top European side. Theo, Ox, Raheem, You can see Sanchez looking for Theo, he’s never there not on the same wavelength , why he’s not a top player that’s why, run and puff.not surprised Sanchez and Ozil are fed up. Ox getting fat and slow and was never that good. Raheem plays with some top players, can’t pass the ball more than 3ft and gets pushed off the ball… Watch him playing against Monaco useless out of his depth. Next to Pogba a waste of money.. Look at… Read more »
Ox had a fitness test today and I’d rather he was kept back until after the interlull. The last thing we need is for him to aggrivate an injury with England just when we need him and he’s hitting some form. Theo can have a rest and be fit and ready for City.
Wenger’s only mistake to me is continuous over estimating of our players.Coq,Walcott shouldnt be starters for any serious top team that the reason why top teams and average teams like liverpool beat us. Can any top team sign this our present Wilshere? our English bunch bar Holding re not that good enough.