England squad finalised for Brazil trip

Good news for Liverpool, Southampton and Everton fans, as Roy Hodgson names his 23 players for the 2014 World Cup.

2014 World Cup: England squad finalised for Brazil trip  - Roy Hodgson has named England's 23-man squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. While there is an experienced core to the squad — Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Glen Johnson have over 300 caps between them — the overriding theme is one of of youthful vigour and promise. Or inexperience, if you're feeling ungenerous.

As expected, this season's Premier League success stories are well represented. Five of the stars of Liverpool's oh-so-close title campaign are selected, including forward Daniel Sturridge and midfielder Jordan Henderson, while Southampton and Everton have contributed three players each, the hugely exciting Ross Barkley among them. However, indifferent seasons with Manchester United mean that Tom Cleverley and Michael Carrick only make the reserve list, as does West Ham's Andy Carroll.

Tottenham players Kyle Walker and Andros Townsend, the star of qualifying, have missed out through injury — this is, incidentally, the first time England will go to a major tournament without a Tottenham player since 1954 — as has Southampton's Jay Rodriguez, an outside possibility for the squad. But Hodgson appears to be confident that Phil Jones, Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be fully recovered from their recent knocks. Should the United man not make it in time, then Everton's John Stones will come in.

The other notable absentees are Ashley Cole, who announced his retirement from international football after being informed he would not make the 23, and Gareth Barry, whose excellent season at Everton has not been enough to earn a return to international football.

England's first game is on June 14, against Italy in Manaus, but they will play three friendlies before then. First they face Peru at Wembley, on 30 May, before flying to the USA for a training camp and games against Ecuador (4 June) and Honduras (7 June).

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

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

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

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

Reserve list: John Ruddy (Norwich), Jon Flanagan (Liverpool), John Stones (Everton), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Andy Carroll (West Ham United), Jermain Defoe (Toronto FC) // ( sbnation.com )