Sansom's verdict

Kenny Sansom gave his views on those that made it into England's squad - and those that didn't.

Former England star assesses Capello's final 23

So Fabio Capello has named his 23 - and we now know the men who will carry England's World Cup hopes on their shoulders. Capello trimmed his provisional squad from 30 players to 23 on Tuesday afternoon with Theo Walcott, Darren Bent, Leighton Baines, Michael Dawson, Tom Huddlestone, Scott Parker and Adam Johnson confirmed as the seven players to miss out. That means the likes of Joe Cole, Stephen Warnock and Shaun Wright-Phillips can celebrate a place on the plane to South Africa - as can injury worries Gareth Barry and Ledley King - and the squad can now begin to prepare for their first game against USA on Saturday June 12. Former England defender Kenny Sansom was in the Sky Sports News studio to deliver his verdict as the news broke and he gave his opinions on some of those that made it... and those that didn't.

Missing out

Theo Walcott

I thought he would go because he has outstanding pace. If you're going to play against a team that play high up the pitch and give a lot of space in behind their defence, Theo would have been ideal for people like Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard to knock simple balls in behind their defence for Theo to run onto. But for me, in the last couple of matches he's had the outstanding pace but the final pass and final cross has not been good enough. In the first half against Japan he had the opportunity to go past people, show his pace, create good crosses, create good chances for England and definitely get in the 23. I think Theo himself has got himself to blame because he didn't do that. I honestly thought he'd go, but on looking at those two matches I think Capello's made the right decision.

Darren Bent

If you want goals, I personally would have put him in my 23 - especially if you're going to get lots of crosses into the box. Emile Heskey's record of scoring goals is not magnificent. I would have gone for Bent, but I think the reason he's gone for Heskey is he can hold the ball up, he's a big figure - until you stand alongside him you don't realise how big he is - and some defenders don't like playing against him. I think that's the reason he's gone for Heskey. What Bent should have done against Japan is say to every single player in that team 'give me the ball', especially Walcott and Lennon. He should have said to the wide players: 'When you get a chance, cross it because I want to score.' He had to score. If he had scored against Japan in the first half, I think he might have edged it. But he's gone for Heskey and I don't think there's a lot between the players.

Leighton Baines

If someone doesn't like travelling aboard, then how can they go to South Africa for the World Cup? If Ashley Cole gets injured in training then you end up playing someone who's not well, feeling sick and missing home. That's not a good sign. When you become an England player, you've got to be willing to travel, you've got to enjoy yourself and that might be one of the reasons [for excluding Baines] when we eventually hear from Mr Capello. Baines didn't play particularly well against Mexico. I went to the game and [beforehand] I said I thought he would go [to the World Cup]. But he looked a bit shaky and maybe that's another sign that on the big occasion he looked nervous in the dressing room and nervous afterwards. Maybe Capello has seen that in him.

Adam Johnson

I think he's had a very good season and Capello has said so himself. He can play on the right, he can play on the left and he's got a great first touch. He can cross with both feet and he's a very good finisher when he gets an opportunity. I think Capello has thought long and hard about Adam Johnson because he has been quoted as talking about his ability. The next European Championship and the next World Cup - that's Adam Johnson's time. Now he's got two seasons at Man City to keep improving and I think you'll see Adam Johnson as a star for England in the future.

Tom Huddlestone

For me, he can be at the next World Cup if he gets rid of that nervous system. Someone I spoke to the other day said he's quite a nervous player. Once he gets rid of that and gets more play in the Tottenham team I think he'll be great for the next World Cup.

Scott Parker

A fantastic lad. Great player. But I just think he's just out of the top midfield players in England at the moment.

On the plane

Joe Cole

I think Joe can do something a little bit special. I think the other reason from Joe's point of view is experience. He's been there and played a few times now for England. He's not playing regular for Chelsea, but he'll be fresh, he'll be up for it, he'll enjoy going and he knows most of the players very, very well. I think it's a great inclusion. We're all hoping England will qualify for the second phase and I think Joe will play a big part. I don't think he'll be 'Mr 23', I think he'll play a big part.

Michael Carrick

I don't think he played particularly well against Mexico, but I think the fact is that Gareth Barry's still injured and if you're looking for someone to sit in front of the back four then Michael Carrick can do that. He can keep the ball moving. With all his experience at Man United, a great football team, he can keep the ball moving. Not only can he sit in front of the back four, he's very good in the air. He's played centre-half and right-back before, he's good for corners and free-kicks put into the box and he can tackle - which is what you want from a midfielder sitting there. That allows Lampard and Gerrard to go and play. I think that will be his role against the USA.

Shaun Wright-Phillips

When he came on in the second half against Japan he made two incredible tackles. It was like John Terry or Rio Ferdinand. He steamed in and wanted to get hold of the ball. He was almost saying to Capello: 'I want to be in that 23' He worked so hard and after Theo didn't perform in the first half, I think Shaun Wright-Phillips said: 'I'm going to go out and do the business'. I think he did the business and that's the reason that Shaun Wright-Phillips should be picked.

Stephen Warnock

I think it's a gamble if Ashley Cole was like Gareth Barry and had an injury. Then it's a gamble because you're maybe going to have to play him against the United States and put him in the first XI straight away. But the way Ashley has played after coming back from that serious injury has been absolutely fantastic. I think he's going to stay fit and I think that's one of the reasons why Capello has put Stephen Warnock in. There's not a lot between Warnock and Baines. Ashley is way ahead of both of them and between them two it's a flip of a coin. With Baines being a bit homesick, little tiny things like that might have edged it.

Ledley King

I think a fit Ledley King is a great centre-half. Jamie Redknapp and Glenn Hoddle said they think he's better than John Terry and Rio Ferdinand. I would slightly disagree with that because we haven't seen enough of him consistently. I think Ledley's got everything. I think he's more like Rio than like Terry; he's a comfortable football player and almost looks like a sweeper. A fully fit Ledley King has got to be in the 23 and will be fighting very closely to be in the first XI. It's not a big gamble. We wouldn't like to see Ledley injured, but I think they'll take care of him and wrap him up in cotton wool. The one thing about Ledley - and everyone's said it - is you can bring him in after he's been injured and he'll come in and play like he's not been out.

Gareth Barry

I think this is massive. It doesn't look like he will make the United States game and if he was 70 per cent fit I don't think Capello would take the chance in that match. But he's very important because he allows Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard to do what they do best and do the attacking from the middle of the park. I think Gareth Barry's a very good passer of the ball and we know he can score goals as well. When you've got three players coming from almost the centre of midfield who can score goals it gives you a chance to go on and do well in the competition.