England Euro 2012 Squad Announced
16/05/2012
Rio Ferdinand and Kyle Walker miss out on Euro 2012.
The uncapped duo of Arsenal winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Norwich City goalkeeper John Ruddy are included.
Ferdinand last featured for his country in the Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland in June 2011, although he was selected for the friendly against Holland the following August which was postponed due to the London riots.
Walker, 21, is out of contention due to a broken toe which has required injections for him to finish the season with Tottenham Hotspur. The winner of this season's PFA Young Player of the Year award had seemed likely to be handed a ticket on the plane to Ukraine and Poland, but the blow has dashed his hopes of appearing at a first major international tournament.
Canaries custodian Ruddy, 25, is preferred to Scott Carson as back-up to Joe Hart by new manager Roy Hodgson.
Hodgson has also excluded Manchester City's Micah Richards with Glen Johnson seemingly first-choice right-back with Phil Jones as back-up.
John Terry is included despite his forthcoming court case and is likely to partner either Chelsea team-mate Gary Cahill or Manchester City title-winner Joleon Lescott in the heart of defence.
The midfield quartet who played against Germany in the World Cup second round thumping - Gareth Barry, Frank Lampard, James Milner and Steven Gerrard - are all included as is Scott Parker despite missing the end of the season with an Achilles problem.
There is no international return for Paul Scholes but Manchester United team-mate Ashley Young is named and will compete for one of the wide berths with 18-year-old Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has made just six Premier League starts, and fellow Gunner Theo Walcott.
Stewart Downing is also on the plane despite an inconsistent first season with Liverpool as is Anfield colleague Andy Carroll, who forces his way into the squad after a late burst of form in a campaign in which he scored just four Premier League goals.
Jermain Defoe and Danny Welbeck are the other striking options for Hodgson with Wayne Rooney missing the first two games because of suspension.
Aston Villa's Darren Bent, who has been sidelined since February with ruptured ankle ligaments, and Stoke City striker Peter Crouch do not make the trip.
Five players are on stand-by: Birmingham City goalkeeper Jack Butland, Everton defender Phil Jagielka, Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson, Manchester City winger Adam Johnson and Chelsea forward Daniel Sturridge.
England have been drawn in Group D alongside Ukraine, Sweden and France for the tournament being co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine which starts on June 8.