England 2012 Squad Announced: Carrick Omitted; Oxlade-Chamberlain and Walcott Included

The FA today announced the 23-man England squad for Euro 2012.

The 23-man squad for Poland-Ukraine is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), Robert Green (West Ham United), John Ruddy (Norwich)

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Joleon Lescott (Manchester City), John Terry (Chelsea)

Midfielders: Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Scott Parker (Tottenham Hotspur), Ashley Young (Manchester United), James Milner (Manchester City)

Strikers: Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United), Andy Carroll (Liverpool)

Standby list: Jack Butland (Birmingham), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea)

What’s your opinion about Michael Carrick and Peter Crouch being omitted? And what about Roy Hodgson’s decision to include Stewart Downing, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott?

Based on the above named squad, Hodgson has made all of the right decisions. It’s a strong England squad and I’m particularly impressed that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been included. He’ll certainly be the X Factor for England if he gets a chance to play on the wing. His speed and skill will frustrate opponents.

I’m disappointed that there’s no room for Grant Holt in the squad, but who would you replace him with? Andy Carroll, while not at the top of his form, is a threat in the air for England, so I wouldn’t remove him. And Defoe, Rooney and Welbeck are proven England international players.

Based on the above England squad, who would you pick for the starting line-up against France at Euro 2012? Here’s my selection:

Hart

Jones – Cahill – Terry – Cole

Walcott – Parker – Gerrard – Barry – Young

Welbeck

What’s your starting 11?