England awaits Sven's squad

GOALKEEPERS

Paul Robinson (Tottenham)

The only goalkeeper that everyone in the country would want in their squad. Has been in outstanding form for Spurs and is the only man in contention to start every game in Germany.

Verdict: Will go

David James (Manchester City)

Calamity James would not be going had we had the goalkeepers behind him to take his place. The City goalkeeper will never be able to force his way ahead of Robinson again but is in the squad through a lack of English keepers.

Verdict: Will go

Robert Green (Norwich City)

Is one of the most highly-rated goalkeepers outside the Premiership and is up and coming. Is purely in the squad for experience and for emergency purposes.

Verdict: Will go

DEFENDERS

Ashley Cole (Arsenal)

Emerged through 25 minutes of his comeback game at Sunderland last week unscathed and played the full 90 minutes against Manchester City on Thursday. Had not played for three months with ankle trouble but is the best left-back we have to offer.

Verdict: Will go

Wayne Bridge (Chelsea)

Allowed to go to Fulham on loan in January after failing to prove his fitness to Mourinho after breaking two bones in his ankle. He has played relatively well for the Cottagers and is likely to be called up as cover to Cole.

Verdict: Will go

Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United)

Despite heavy criticism being hurled his way on a number of occasions this season over his form, Ferdinand remains one of the best centre-backs in the world on his day. It's impossible to overlook someone with his class.

Verdict: Will go

John Terry (Chelsea)

Not only will he be named in the squad he is the only automatic choice for a centre-back slot. Scans on an injured ankle picked up against Manchester United last weekend came up clear and is fit to go.

Verdict: Will go

Sol Campbell (Arsenal)

At the start of the season he would have been an automatic choice. Since then he has suffered a lapse in form on the pitch and from depression off it. Nevertheless Eriksson knows Campbell well and will trust him.

Verdict: Will go

Ledley King (Tottenham)

Will be given every chance to prove his fitness and go to his first World Cup but fracturing a bone in his foot against Everton last month was by no means ideal preparation. That was his last game of the season and is not due to recover until the start of the tournament.

Verdict: Will go

Gary Neville (Manchester United)

Whatever people think of the United skipper he is still the best English right-back around. This could well be his last World Cup with the emergence of Boro's young guns but there is no doubt about his place.

Verdict: Will go

Jamie Carragher (Liverpool)

As well as his outstanding form for Liverpool over the past two years, he is also a certainty to be included because of his versatility. If anything happens to anyone across the backline he can fill in.

Verdict: Will go

Wes Brown (Manchester United)

Has only become a regular at the heart of the United defence this season and has by no means been outstanding. Likely to be only called up by Eriksson if he decides King is not fit enough to go.

Verdict: Won't go

Jonathan Woodgate (Real Madrid)

Unfortunately the desperate first season he has suffered in Spain has cost him dear. He has never looked like gaining full fitness and has never looked like forcing his way into Eriksson's plans as a result.

Verdict: Won't go

MIDFIELDERS

David Beckham (Real Madrid)

The captain has hardly been in the best of form this season, despite returning to a right-midfield slot with his club side, Real Madrid. However, given his close relationship with the departing Sven-Goran Eriksson, it is inconceivable that he will not be lining up on the right of midfield when England face Paraguay next month.

Verdict: Will go

Frank Lampard (Chelsea)

Best player in the Premiership before Christmas, with his goals effectively firing Jose Mourinho's side to their second successive title. His form has dipped somewhat since then, but Lampard remains one of the most important members of England's starting line-up.

Verdict: Will go

Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)

At the start of the season, there were fears that Liverpool's massive workload would leave their skipper exhausted. Not a chance. The Footballer of the Year is playing as well as he has ever done and Eriksson will be hoping he continues to hit the heights in Germany.

Verdict: Will go

Joe Cole (Chelsea)

Has flitted in and out form this season but, if last month's sensational strike against Manchester United is anything to go by, he could be peaking at the right time. Rooney's injury means Eriksson may be tempted to play him as an auxiliary striker, a move that would be a gamble despite Cole's attacking ability.

Verdict: Will go

Aaron Lennon (Tottenham)

There is always one player that makes a late surge from nowhere and ends up in the squad. This year, that player is Tottenham midfielder Lennon, an old-fashioned dribbler who has been in sensational form in the last two months of the season.

Verdict: Will go

Michael Carrick (Tottenham)

Eriksson has been scouring the country for a holding midfielder and he has finally found his man. Better on the ball than team-mate Ledley King, the Geordie is equally effective at breaking down the opposition.

Verdict: Will go

Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham)

Eriksson needs a midfielder who is able to cover for a variety of positions, and the former Newcastle man fits the bill. Has impressed as Tottenham have gate-crashed the top four and has an Eriksson favourite in the past.

Verdict: Will go

Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough)

As well as thrilling the nation, Middlesbrough's sensational UEFA Cup run has also thrust Downing to the forefront of Eriksson's mind. One of the few genuine left-footers in contention for a place in the squad, Downing's chances improved when Rooney's injury raised the possibility of Joe Cole being pushed inside.

Verdict: Will go

Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea)

At the start of the season, Wright-Phillips wasn't just pushing for a place in the squad, he was looking like displacing Beckham from the starting line-up. Nine inactive months later, and the Chelsea midfielder's lack of first-team since leaving Man. City action now look like costing him his place on the plane.

Verdict: Won't go

Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich)

The Bayern Munich midfielder has been nursing a series of niggling injuries this season, limiting his ability to catch Eriksson's eye. The Swede remains an admirer of Hargreaves' versatility but, assuming Jenas makes the squad, he is unlikely to take both players to the World Cup finals.

Verdict: Won't go

Kieron Dyer (Newcastle)

The Newcastle midfielder's injury nightmare shows no sign of coming to an end and, as a result, he will spend this summer attempting to build up his fitness. A series of hamstring injuries have been exacerbated by a medical complaint and, at this stage, it is difficult to predict when he will play for his country again.

Verdict: Won't go

STRIKERS

Michael Owen (Newcastle)

It has been a long and tortuous journey, but the Newcastle United striker now looks certain to start England's first World Cup game against Paraguay. His broken metatarsal is just about mended and, despite feeling pain in last weekend's game at Birmingham, Owen is happy with his progress.

Verdict: Will go

Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)

A nation held its breath when Rooney crashed to the ground at Stamford Bridge, and the worst was confirmed when X-rays proved he had broken two bones in his foot.

He is unlikely to figure at all before the World Cup quarter-finals, and may not even be fit by then, but his importance is such that Eriksson will not consider leaving him at home.

Verdict: Will go - but probably shouldn't

Jermain Defoe (Tottenham)

Has hardly kicked a ball for Tottenham this season and, most years, his lack of first-team football would have been terminal to his World Cup hopes. England are hardly awash with strikers though and, with massive question marks hanging over Rooney's participation, Defoe's international experience will be enough to keep him in the squad.

Verdict: Will go

Peter Crouch (Liverpool)

The Liverpool striker was a figure of fun when he went three months without a goal at the start of the season, but his reputation has been enhanced by a string of impressive recent displays. Eriksson likes to have the option of a target man in his squad - look at how long he stood by Emile Heskey - and Crouch may even start with Owen in England's early games.

Verdict: Will go

Darren Bent (Charlton)

The Charlton Athletic striker looked to be heading to the World Cup when he couldn't stop scoring in the first half of the season. The goals have dried up since then though and, unless Eriksson decides to take five strikers to Germany, Bent is likely to miss out.

Verdict: Won't go

Andy Johnson (Cystal Palace)

In terms of sheer weight of goals, Johnson has been the most prolific striker in England over the last two seasons. But this term's strikes have come in the Championship and, given that Eriksson does not stray that low down the food chain, it would be a massive surprise if he was to feature.

Verdict: Won't go.