Sven-Goran Eriksson shows off his 23-man squad.

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Full squad:

Seaman (Arsenal), Martyn (Leeds), James (West Ham), Ferdinand (Leeds), Campbell (Arsenal), Southgate (Middlesbrough), Ashley Cole (Arsenal), Bridge (Southampton), Mills (Leeds), Brown (Man Utd), Keown (Arsenal), Beckham (Man Utd), Scholes (Man Utd), Gerrard (Liverpool), Dyer (Newcastle), Butt (Man Utd), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Joe Cole (West Ham), Owen (Liverpool), Heskey (Liverpool), Vassell (Aston Villa), Fowler (Leeds), Sheringham (Tottenham).

On standby: Murphy (Liverpool).

Sven-Goran Eriksson took a safety-first approach to his World Cup squad in choosing Martin Keown as his final selection to act as a "father-figure" to emerging youngsters like Joe Cole.

Keown, 35, may have 10 years' international experience but was only called up for last month's friendly against Paraguay after injuries to Sol Campbell and Ugo Ehiogu.

His summons means that Phil Neville misses out for the second World Cup running, while Andy Cole has now retired from international football after similarly being overlooked.

Eriksson, whose handwritten squad fetched £5,000 at a Variety Club charity auction, is still likely to have the youngest squad at the tournament, with 20-year-old Cole and Wes Brown among 12 players aged 24 or under.

However, to balance out that inexperience, he has selected not only Keown but also kept faith in 36-year-old Teddy Sheringham, rather than taking a risk on Blackburn's Matt Jansen.

He has also gone for the safety net of eight defenders, five of whom can play at centre-back, thereby ensuring that he has fewer options in a midfield area that is tainted by injury worries.

Indeed, that is the only real criticism of this intended squad, although Danny Murphy is on standby in case Nicky Butt, who is out for about two weeks with a knee problem, and David Beckham cannot make it.

Eriksson, who does not have to confirm his final squad until May 21, was nevertheless determined to select two players in each position, with Brown acting as cover to Danny Mills at right-back in the absence of Gary Neville.

It meant Ugo Ehiogu, Frank Lampard and Trevor Sinclair also missed out, while Steve McManaman and Darren Anderton already knew their fate. With Jamie Carragher said to have been ruled out due to the need for a summer knee operation, Keown's joy at Arsenal's double success was matched by his relief at a World Cup summons.

"He is special, a very good defender and an effective marker," observed Eriksson."

"You need a player like that. He also has a lot of experience and knows what a World Cup is.

"We have a very young squad and we have some older players, like him, David Seaman and Teddy Sheringham, who should be the fathers of the team.

"You hope that those players over 30 will be the leaders, not only on the pitch, and will help the rest of the squad, especially the younger players.

"After all, Teddy Sheringham has much more experience in the World Cup than I have."

While Gareth Southgate, Nigel Martyn and David James make up the six thirtysomethings in the squad, there are also six potential Under-21 internationals.

"I haven't picked them because they are young but because they are good," he said of Joe Cole, Ashley Cole, Owen Hargreaves, Wayne Bridge and Darius Vassell, while Steven Gerrard also makes up that sextet.

"They do not have the experience but this is the only way to get experience."

Joe Cole's call-up is especially welcome, signifying Eriksson's admiration of the midfielder's "fantasy" talents as, just like Sheringham, he has the natural ability to transform a match as a substitute.

"He has something special, can change things on the pitch and I think in a 23-man squad you have to take those young very big talents," explained the Swede.

"How old was Michael Owen when he played in his first World Cup?"

As for 23-year-old Brown, who has only recently returned from injury, he added: "He can play in central defence or at right-back so I thought he was a natural choice.

"He won't be exhausted because he has not played so many games, so that's an advantage. He's also very hungry to play."

All in all, Eriksson has raised few eyebrows with his selections. Apart from those surprised by the presence of four centre-backs and only seven midfielders, the only controversy is in the lack of controversy.

Then again, the core group of his squad has been settled for some time. But then the England coach realises that not everyone will agree with him.

"I don't expect all England fans to have the same opinion. Then football should be very boring," he added.

"I don't know if I am right or not. We will start the World Cup and then see if we are successful. I will be judged on that and I accept it 200

What do you think of the squad?

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