Defoe cut from England squad

Jermain Defoe has somewhat surprisingly been named as one the 7 players cut from the original 30 man England squad to face France next week.

David James and Glen Johnson retain their places in the final 23 for the friendly in Paris on Wednesday but Defoe joins Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ashley Young, Shaun Wright-Phillips, David Wheater, Jermaine Jenas and Matthew Upson – who is injured anyway – in dropping out, while injury to Scott Carson has seen Paul Robinson drafted in to replace him.

Looking at the names left out and those included it would appear that Fabio Capello is merely looking to try a number of different options, with none of these players dropped being dropped for any other reason on the face of it. That said Defoe has been in fantastic form recently so his being omitted is slight odd?

This is the final squad:

Goalkeepers David James (Portsmouth), Paul Robinson (Tottenham Hotspur), Chris Kirkland (Wigan Athletic)
Defenders Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), Joleon Lescott (Everton), John Terry (Chelsea), Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham Hotspur)
Midfielders Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Owen Hargreaves (Manchester United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), David Bentley (Blackburn Rovers), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), David Beckham (LA Galaxy), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough)
Forwards Michael Owen (Newcastle United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Theo Walcott (Arsenal)

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