| Position |
Players |
| Goalkeepers |
Paul Robinson, Robert Green, David James |
| Defenders |
Ashley Cole, Wayne Bridge, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Sol Campbell, Gary Neville, Wes Brown, Jamie Carragher |
| Midfielders |
David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick, Kieron Dyer, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Owen Hargreaves |
| Forwards |
Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch |
The Reasoning
Goalkeepers
Paul Robinson - Has established himself as England's No.1 with little fuss. He's tall, solid and reliable and gives the defence so much more confidence.
David James - Will go because of his experience, and personality. He will help with the bonding of the squad and provide a useful backup to the number 1 if called on.
Robert Green - Of the remaining English goalkeepers there is not much between them but Green has stayed fit and shown great promise.
Defenders
Gary Neville - Ever dependable. Gary always plays well for England and can sometimes surprise with the number of runs he makes and the quality of his crosses. No one comes near him still in that position.
Ashley Cole - Pace, skill, experience, confidence. Ashley has developed so well under Wenger in a dynamic team that plays fast, expansive football. Was always good going forward but has now improved so much defensively. A definite starter.
John Terry - Not only a great defender but a leader too. Has a great reading of the game that can sometimes hide his slight lack of pace. Probably the best centre back in the whole premiership last season, not to mention Europe.
Wes Brown - Will come in as cover on the right. Brown has experience in that position for England and Manchester United. Vastly missed by Ferguson and highly regarded can also play in a back three if required.
Rio Ferdinand - Still regarded as one of the best defenders in the world. He has so much composure on the ball it is almost wasted in defence. Dominant in the air, on the ground, great positioning and has pace and reads the game so well, it is no wonder so many defenders try and model themselves on his game.
Sol Campbell - Unlucky this season with injuries, but when fit he is like a rock at the back. An inspirational player and immensely experienced. Has shone for England in the last two tournaments being named in FIFA's Team of the tournament at the 2002 World Cup.
Wayne Bridge - A good defender who enjoys getting forward and running at defenders. Has good skills and a fantastic left foot on him. Very unlucky to have missed the whole season with injury but will bounce back.
Jamie Carragher - Has etched his name in the history books already as the most capped England U21s player, and has now topped that with Liverpool. Very much in the Terry Butcher mould he would give blood for the cause. Impossible to leave out of the squad.
Midfielders
David Beckham - Still the Captain and one of the best free kick specialists in the game. Has the ablility to pick out a pass from any range that can unlock the tightest defences. Also a world renowned figure and role model that will ensure the neautrals in Germany are very much on our side.
Steven Gerrard - Could he possibly be the best central midfielder in football today? His running determination, passing and shooting is second to none. He also proved for Liverpool what a great header of the ball he is. No longer is England reliant on the Beckham and Owen combo.
Frank Lampard - Could he possibly be the best central midfielder in football today? Consistency is his main quality, but in a squad of multi-million pound footballers he has stood out above them all.
Joe Cole - Our thanks go to Mourinho and Chelsea for transforming Joe from just a bright prospect into a great all round midfielder. Has the game now to fill the left side void for England and certainly has the desire to create and score goals.
Michael Carrick - Would not have been in my squad before the USA tour but played an exceptional game in the holding role, protecting the back four, that no player has done since Nicky Butt. Would prove a useful option enabling Gerrard to play on the left and Lampard pusing forward.
Kieran Dyer - Kieran has the experience now at the highest level and that is going to be vital in Germany. Has tremendous pace and can play up front to rest one of the forwards later in a game or anywhere across the midfield.
Shaun Wright-Phillips - Forget tremendous pace, this boy has lightening pace. Is an unknown quantity and could be a useful weapon in the World Cup. If there is a weak left back in the oposition he could well be unleashed, at the expense of the Captain. Will certainly enjoy the experience and is one for the future.
Owen Hargreaves - Mr. Dependable, Mr. Versatile. Call him what you may but he has vast experience of playing in Germany, and has been in the England squad for a long time now and is a great squad player to have. The promising left midfielders England now has will have to wait for the next tournament. It is all about experience.
Forwards
Michael Owen - Quite simply a goal machine. One eye is surely on Bobby Charlton's record. He has great pace and the ability to lose his marker.
Wayne Rooney - Paul Gascoinge wasn't this good, was Pele? If he stays fit he will take the tournament by the scruff of the neck. As good a runner of the ball, passer and shooter as any in the squad.
Jemaine Defoe - A great finisher. Did not play in Euro 2004 but a fine talent and would do well if an unfortunate injury occurred.
Peter Crouch - A close call. Heskey would have got this shout a couple of years ago and did play in the 5-1 drubbing of Germany in Munich. As an alternative forward to have in the squad though you don't get much more alternative than Crouch. He is very difficult for defenders to deal with for his height, but he has fantastic ball skills too that could just surprise a few teams. He also holds the ball up better than Heskey and could be a useful link up player in the closing stages of a game.
So what do you think of Keith's squad? Agree? Disagree? Has he made a glaring omission? Has he justified his selections?
If you can do better, send your 23 and the reasons for it to Editor@TheFA.com and, if it's good, we'll run it over the next two weeks. One of the best selectors will win a pair of tickets to England v Poland. So get choosing! Entries accepted until Friday 01 July.
For information on how to join englandfans, the Official England Supporters Club, go to TheFA.com/englandfans.
Past Picks
Monday 20 June - Andrew Gill
Tuesday 21 June - James Pickles
Wednesday 22 June - Mike Cole
Thursday 23 June - Alex Searle
Friday 24 June - Matt Parkhouse