The England manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson, named the 23 players that he is taking to the World Cup 2006 on 8th May 2006. He also chose five reserve players. They are:
 

Caps and goals correct up to 8 May 2006

Click here to see the predicted England squad that was predicted the weekend before the squad was announced.
 
Look at the latest England team injury news here. Note that Wayne Rooney has broken a bone in his foot and will be unavailable for England's warm up games and first World Cup game. After positive scan results Rooney was included England's final World Cup squad.

The deadline for submitting the squad of 23 players to FIFA was 15 May 2006 and the same squad picked on 8 May was submitted.
 

Eriksson has chosen only one recognised right back in Gary Neville but several players can cover right back if necessary, including Jamie Carragher, Owen Hargreaves and Steven Gerrard. Ledley King (central defender or defensive midfielder) has been left out of the squad as he has not yet recovered from his broken foot and Shaun Wright-Phillips has also been overlooked in favour of right winger Aaron Lennon.

England's main injury concerns are in attack with Michael Owen only just recovering from injury and Wayne Rooney injured with a broken foot until the after the World Cup starts. In a surprising move 17 year old Theo Walcott was chosen as the fourth striker ahead of Jermain Defoe and Darren Bent. Walcott has not yet played in the first team with Arsenal yet - Eriksson admitted it was a gamble but made his mind up after watching him at a training ground match the previous weekend.

*** Latest squad news below ***

On Friday 19 May 2006, Luke Young injured his ankle training with the England team in Portugal and Michael Dawson was called up to replace him as a reserve. On Monday 22 May 2006, Nigel Reo-Coker also withdrew as a standby with a back problem and was replaced with Phil Neville. The reserves can replace an injured squad member up to 9 June 2006.

During the B international against Belarus on 25 May 2006, Robert Green had to be replaced by Scott Carson in the second half of the game through injury - he has a groin injury and will now take no part in the World Cup - the "third goalkeeper" place has therefore been taken by Scott Carson. Manchester United reserve keeper Ben Foster (playing on loan at Watford and helping them get promoted to the Premiership) has now been called up as a reserve squad member.

On 5 June 2006, only reserve player Jermain Defoe travelled with the squad to Baden-Baden, Germany as cover for Wayne Rooney - Rooney also travelled to Germany but will return to Manchester on 7 June 2006 for a scan on his injured foot.

On 7 June 2006, it was revealed that after positive scan results Rooney will now be in the England's final World Cup squad.

This is what the World Cup 2002 squad were doing in the first half of 2006:
 

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England did not qualify for the European Under 21 championship finals in 2006. Click here for more information on the European Under 21 championships in 2006.

Click here to see who is the next England manager.