Pointing in the right direction: Fabio Capello can now plan for the World Cup with his final squad of 23What happened to the old-fashioned squad announcement when the manager spoke face to face with his players and then explained his decisions to the supporters?
Fabio Capello began with a phone call to the unfortunate seven and it was then followed up with a longer explanation by Franco Baldini, who speaks better English.
The painful process lasted the whole day and here is how it all unfolded...
09.00 Stephen Warnock wakes to find out from Sportsmail's exclusive by Matt Lawton that he is in the England squad. He waits for the confirmation and it soon arrives with a phone call from Capello's right-hand man, Baldini.
09.30 Gareth Barry's fitness test is soon to be under way at the Grove Hotel in Hertfordshire. England's medical staff are pleased with what they see. Pack your bags, Gareth . . . you're in.
The last time England won the World Cup, it involved three West Ham players . . . but not this time as Scott Parker is informed he won't be making the final cut. It was not unexpected, despite his impressive season.
Blew his chance: Leighton Baines10.00 Leighton Baines is out, too, after a poor display against Mexico. Five more players to be told, before an official announcement which is due mid-afternoon, although the FIFA deadline is 11pm.
10.11 BBC website includes text from a reader that Adam Johnson is in the squad. Oh no he isn't...
10.39 Sir Geoff Hurst, who knows about scoring goals in World Cup matches, calls for Emile Heskey to be left behind and for Darren Bent to be selected.
11.00 The call goes into Walcott from Capello. 'Sorry, you are not coming with us.' Walcott is on a golf course and his family and friends had booked tickets for travel and accommodation. It's another Walcott World Cup bombshell, but this time he's staying at home.
12.40 Sky Sports breaking news... Darren Bent is left out of the squad.
13.02 The tweeting begins...Michael Carrick is IN the squad, according to informed tweeters. The word had been that Manchester United expected him to miss out. But he's made it, so presumably that's bad news for Tom Huddlestone.
13.13 The Northern Echo newspaper reports that Adam Johnson has failed to make the cut, too. That surely means Shaun Wright-Phillips and Aaron Lennon are the wing flyers in the party.
13.21 A text to the BBC from Adam in Corby: 'What a pathetic way to find this all out, with it dripping through from various journos. Just make the official announcement FA!"
13.30 Rumours in the Spurs camp that Ledley King is out and Michael Dawson is in. Not true but a day of indecision and rumours will only lead to wild speculation. It was so much better to be told face-to-face, by Glenn Hoddle in 1998, but watch out for the lampshades when Gazza is about.
Joking around: But Michael Dawson (centre) wasn't laughing when he got the call from Capello on Tuesday morning14.00 Clubs are emailed who is in and who is out, but they are told to keep it a secret until everyone has been informed with a 4pm announcement expected.
15.06 Manchester City's official website confirms that their man, Shaun Wright-Phillips, is in the 23.
15.25 'Am gutted,' tweets Darren Bent of Sunderland. 'But thanks for all your support this season...I am really appreciating your support...will work harder next year for the red and white.' Still no official announcement, but Bent is clearly heading for his sunbed.
15.30 Theo Walcott issues a statement saying he 'respects the decision of Mr Capello'. Still no official announcement.
15.31 The FA website has crashed! Such is the demand for information. Meanwhile, on dailymail.co.uk, James from Birmingham writes: 'Capello just made his biggest mistake as England Manager by not taking Walcott. With 20 minutes left of a game and with England needing a goal, and the opposition defence looking tired, who would you rather see warming up?' Joseph from the USA responds: 'On what basis should Capello have chosen Walcott? Agreed, he had a good game against croatia. But that was all.
Throughout last season, he was a second tier player at Arsenal, not only bcos of injury but also performance.'
16.00 Delayed by the failure to contact one player, once all seven are informed - it is believed Tom Huddlestone was the last - the FA finally announce the squad. Hours after everyone already knew/ revealed/predicted/ tweeted/blogged.
source :dailymail
