TheFA.com

World Cup squad announced

  • Wednesday, 29 June, 2011
  • Brian Eastick
  • England celebrate their opening goal against France.
  • Matt Phillips in action against France at Shrewsbury.
  • Reece Wabara

Head Coach Brian Eastick names his squad for World Cup in Colombia.


FIFA U20 World Cup
29 July - 20 August 2011
Colombia
 Click here for fixtures
 Click here for World Cup match schedule
By Nicholas Veevers

England U20s Head Coach Brian Eastick has named his 21-man squad for the FIFA U20 World Cup, which takes place in Colombia in July and August.

The Young Lions head to South America for the competition, billed by FIFA as their second largest tournament behind the Senior World Cup, after qualifying as a result of their performance in last year's UEFA European U19 Championship when they reached the semi-final.

Six members of that U19 squad are included here, such as Lee Nicholls, Nathan Baker, Reece Brown, Dean Parrett, Ryan Noble and Matt Phillips, whose goal against France last summer secured World Cup qualification.

Also included are four of the players who helped England to win the European U17 Championship last summer in the shape of Jack Butland, Andre Wisdom, George Thorne and Benik Afobe.

Eastick, who managed the U20s in a previous World Cup in Egypt 2009 and will be assisted by Stuart Pearce in Colombia, has also called upon both Gary Gardner and Alex Nimely, who featured in that tournament two years ago whilst the likes of Reece Wabara, Adam Smith and Jason Lowe figured for the U20s earlier this year in a game with France in Shrewsbury.

Wigan Athletic striker Callum McManaman receives his first England call-up at any level after impressing for his club in the latter stages of the season, whilst the likes of Ben Gordon, Jak Alnwick, Jack Robinson, Scott Wootton and Nicky Ajose have previously worn the Three Lions in a variety of previous development squads in recent years.

The group will meet up on 14 July before travelling to Denver, Colorado in the USA for a ten day training camp in order to prepare for the competition. The squad will then travel to Medellin in Colombia, where they will face their first game with Korea DPR on Friday 29 July.

Their second Group F match sees them pitted against six-time U20 World Champions Argentina, before the squad head north to Cartagena for their final game of the Group Stage against Mexico.

The Squad (Click on player's name to see their England profile)

Goalkeepers: Jak Alnwick (Newcastle United), Jack Butland (Birmingham City), Lee Nicholls (Wigan Athletic).

Defenders: Nathan Baker (Aston Villa), Ben Gordon (Chelsea), Jack Robinson (Liverpool)***, Adam Smith (Tottenham Hotspur), Reece Wabara (Manchester City), Andre Wisdom (Liverpool)^, Scott Wootton (Manchester United)*.

Midfielders: Reece Brown (Manchester United), Gary Gardner (Aston Villa)^^, Jason Lowe (Blackburn Rovers), Dean Parrett (Tottenham Hotspur), George Thorne (West Bromwich Albion)**.

Forwards: Benik Afobe (Arsenal)^^^, Nicholas Ajose (Manchester United)****, Callum McManaman (Wigan Athletic), Alex Nimely (Manchester City)^^^^, Ryan Noble (Sunderland), Matthew Phillips (Blackpool).

* Withdrawn by club and replaced by James Hurst of West Bromwich Albion.
** Withdrawn by club and replaced by Ryan Mason of Tottenham Hotspur.
*** Withdrawn by club and replaced by Blair Adams of Sunderland.
^ Withdrawn by club and replaced by George Taft of Leicester City.
^^ Withdrawn by club and replaced by Billy Knott of Sunderland.
^^^ Withdrawn and replaced by Saido Berahino of West Bromwich Albion.
**** Withdrawn by club and replaced by Josh Morris of Blackburn Rovers.
^^^^ Withdrawn and replaced by Michael Ngoo of Liverpool.
Ryan Mason withdrawn injured and replaced by James Wallace of Everton.


What Do You Think?

  • I think the withdrawals are disgraceful. These kids will have enough time with their clubs during the upcoming season. How can anyone possibly think these players will get more out of pre-season training than the experience they would have acquired by pitting their skills against the best U20s from Spain, Argentina and the like. The clubs would have got better players back, too. And we wonder why our players freeze when they get to the World Cup proper. It's no surprise, they've never experienced one before. We need to get our priorities back into balance and elevate the importance of our national side ABOVE the commercial objectives of the Premier League. I'm old enough to remember when there was never any question about club or country, it was country every time. And guess what, for every other country in the world except England this is still the case today!By USA Lion (21 months ago)
  • So the squad is now confirmed so hopefully no more withdrawls. It does seem like we are taking a 'C' or even 'D' side over to Colombia. You can't blame the clubs for wanting to involve their youngsters in pre season but I cant see many of them being regulars this season so surely it would be good for their development to play on this big internation stage. I just hope they can perform better than the squad which went to Toulon in 2003!By Swjoduk (22 months ago)
  • Let's Hope and Pray for the U-20 Squad not to be a "Barn" team of goal from other team in the World Cup.By Kiki (22 months ago)
  • Once again a disappointing squad for a U20 world cup squad. Lets hope we dont get another embarrissing hammering like we did against Argentina a few years back. It was so predictable that the squad would be weak, the clubs are just getting back to pre season, any youngster who is just breaking into his clubs first team or aiming to do so will want to concentrate on that, not jetting off to a tournament that we in England never seem to take seriously. If you think of the squad we could have taken, Wilshere, Phil Jones, Wickham, Delfouneso, McEachran, Shelvey, Ranger etc etc. I think they would have done well but any wins and even points this team get will be a bonus. I know I may sound harsh but I am just being realistic!By swjoduk (22 months ago)
  • No entiendo por que no llaman a los mejores jugadores Sub-20 que actulamente tiene Inglaterra, para mandar al segundo torneo mas importante para la FIFA despues de la Copa del Mundo. He leido opiniones de Southgate o Carragher donde dicen que se debe reeducar a los niños para ser mas talentosos o que deben perder el miedo de representar a Inglaterra. Son dos opiniones muy valiosas, pero que la FA no quiere poner en practica, subordinandose al interes de los clubes. La FA no da importancia a este tipo de torneos, deberian aprender de paises exitosos como Brasil que esta pensando enviar a Neymar o España esta pensando mandar a Sergio Canales. Jugadores de calidad en esta edad existen muchos como Wilshere, P. Jones, Rodwell, McEachcran, Wickham, Flanagan, Chamberlain, Ravel Morrison, Tucknilife y otros By Franz (22 months ago)