Hodgson gives youth a chance in Brazil

England manager Roy Hodgson has selected a youthful England squad to send to Brazil.

The inclusion of Southampton 18-year-old Luke Shaw and Ross Barkley will have sent out shockwaves to the likes of veteran Ashley Cole who lost his place in the England side that are heading to Brazil. 

Southampton didn’t just send Luke Shaw. Both Adam Lallana and Liverpool bound Rickie Lambert also made the cut ahead of £35million striker Andy Carroll who only made the standby list after an injury ravaged season at West Ham.

Michael Carrick who last featured for England in October 2013 was a surprise exclusion from the 23-man squad but Manchester United team mate Danny Welbeck was included after just nine goals in the Premier League 2013/14 season.

Liverpool have five players in the final squad including Jordan Henderson who is justifying his large transfer fee in 2011 after a good season at Liverpool and his club team mate Daniel Sturridge, whose goals helped Liverpool to a 2nd place finish in the Premier League, is also travelling to South America. 

In the goalkeeping department Celtic's Fraser Forster will be another surprise inclusion after making the squad ahead of Norwich keeper’ John Ruddy after breaking a clean sheet record in Scotland. Ben Foster and Joe Hart are also included with the latter expected to hold onto the No. 1 jersey.

In defence, Roy Hodgson included Everton’s Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka as well as Manchester United pair Chris Smalling and Phil Jones who was a late scare due to a shoulder injury but is expected to be fit for the first match in Brazil.

The midfield has the experienced pairing of Frank Lampard and captain Steven Gerrard with some pace from Raheem Sterling paired with the strength and creativity of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. England's midfield on paper might look like their strongest area.

Up front England will be hoping their strikers replicate their club form with the likes of Sturridge and Lambert having 34 goals between them in the 2013/14 Premier League season. Wayne Rooney won’t be goal-shy either after 17 goals in the season for a struggling Manchester United.

England kick-off their World Cup campaign against Italy at Manaus on June 14th with their other group games against Uruguay and Costa Rica on June 19th and June 24th. 

For a full view of the England squad visit our English team page.

Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Celtic), Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Hart (Manchester City).

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Southampton), Chris Smalling (Manchester United).

Midfielders: Ross Barkley (Everton), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Southampton), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal).

Forwards: Rickie Lambert (Southampton), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United).

Standby: John Ruddy (Norwich City), Jon Flanagan (Liverpool), John Stones (Everton), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Andy Carroll (West Ham United), Jermain Defoe (Toronto FC).

Extratime.ie will be covering the FIFA World Cup 2014 from the first kick of a ball to the last with reports and news. We will also have regular features from our reporter in Brazil – Macdara Ferris.