Gareth Southgate is set to name his 26-man England squad for the 2022 World Cup this Thursday at 2pm and there’s several big questions soon to be answered.

Will James Maddison make the squad? The form English player in the Premier League has only one cap to his name and doesn’t seem to be in Southgate’s plans.

Will Trent Alexander-Arnold make the squad? Another player Southgate doesn’t seem to fancy but who has not been in great form. His selection appears dependent on Kyle Walker and Reece James’ fitness.

Will there be a bolter? With Ben Chilwell ruled out, could Ryan Sessegnon force his way into the squad as a left wing back? Will Ivan Toney go as an uncapped player?

Neither would be the first unlikely selection for an England tournament squad. We have complied a list of eight players who were surprisingly picked in years gone by.


8. Rio Ferdinand – World Cup 1998

As one of England's greatest ever defenders, it isn’t surprising to see Rio in a squad. It was just that he was 19 at the time of the 1998 World Cup and had just two caps to his name. A third came in a warmup game but none in the tournament for Glenn Hoddle’s side.

The non-participation in '98 started a strange England tournament career for Rio. He played at both the 2002 and 2006 World Cups but missed 2010 through injury. He never played at a European Championships – not picked in 2000, missed drug test ban in 2004, non-qualification in 2008 and not picked again in 2012 due to John Terry’s inclusion.

Rio Ferdinand

Rio Ferdinand


7. Jamie Carragher – World Cup 2010

While not a shock in terms of his quality, his selection for the 2010 World Cup was a major surprise given he had retired from international duty in 2007, due to his back-up position behind the likes of John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Jamie Carragher. He had turned down approaches to return to the fold in the time after.

With Rio injured in the buildup, Carra ended up in the starting lineup for the opening two group games. He was then suspended for the third, was a substitute for the Round of 16 loss to Germany and promptly re-retired after the tournament. A worthwhile return?


6. Dennis Wise – Euro 2000

The ex-Chelsea skipper and “Crazy Gang” member had made his England debut in 1991 but by Euro 2000, he had not played a competitive game for his country in nine years. By now 33 years of age, Wise proved a strange solution to England’s left-sided midfield problem of the time.

He started against both Germany and Romania as Kevin Keegan’s England crashed out at the group stages. By October of the same year, his England career was over.


5. Steve Stone – Euro 1996

A solid Premier League player in the 1990s with both Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, Stone forced his way into Terry Venables’ plans for Euro ’96 as football came home. He had made six caps and scored two goals for his country prior, all in the 195-1996 season.

A further three caps came off the bench in the tournament, the last of which was in the quarter-final against Spain. He never played for England again – a one season wonder.


4. Steve Bull – World Cup 1990

The Wolves legend was selected for Italia ’90 despite playing in the old Second Division – a feat unlikely to be matched. Bull’s four England goals all came in the lead up to the tournament, meaning he was selected over the likes of Alan Smith and Matt le Tissier.

He did not add to his England goals in the tournament but made it off the bench four times. His international career didn’t make it much further in the 1990s.


3. Trevor Sinclair – World Cup 2002

England’s left-sided midfield problem reared its head again at the 2002 World Cup which led to Trevor Sinclair rather obscurely starting four games in the tournament.

A series of unfortunate events for others paved the way – an injury to Steven Gerrard put him on standby, an injury to Danny Murphy in the squad and an injury to Owen Hargreaves in the starting line-up. Another short England career, Sinclair did not play after 2003.

Trevor Sinclair

Trevor Sinclair


2. Martin Kelly – Euro 2012

The owner of the shortest England career of all time at a whopping two minutes of play, which came in a warmup game against Norway. Kelly made his way into the squad after Gary Cahill suffered a broken jaw.

His non-participation in the tournament and ever since means his perhaps unwanted record is unlikely to ever be eclipsed.


1. Theo Walcott – World Cup 2006

Who else? Just months past his 17th birthday, Walcott was shockingly selected by Sven-Göran Eriksson over the likes of Jermain Defoe and Darren Bent for the squad, who had scored nine and 18 Premier League goals in the 2005-2006 season respectively.

Walcott on the other hand had never played a top-flight game having yet to tog out for Arsenal after signing in January 2006. He also didn’t make a single appearance in the World Cup, which added to Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen’s lack of full fitness, made his selection all the more baffling.

Theo Walcott

Theo Walcott