By CAITLIN MURRAY
Jermain Defoe’s World Cup dreams effectively ended on Monday.
Toronto FC’s Defoe missed England’s 23-man World Cup roster, instead being named an alternate in the 30-man preliminary roster.
England manager Roy Hodgson gambled on leaving some veterans behind in favor of bringing a more youthful squad to Brazil. The average age of the 23-man squad is 26 years old, which is more than two years younger than the 2010 World Cup squad but slightly older than 2006.
Chelsea defender Ashley Cole was left off the roster entirely, leading 33-year-old Cole to announce he would retire from international soccer. Defender Luke Shaw, 18, will be England’s third youngest player to represent them in a World Cup.
Here is England’s full 30-man roster:
FORWARDS (4): Rickie Lambert (Southampton), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Ross Barkley (Everton), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Southampton), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)
DEFENDERS (7): Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Man Utd), Luke Shaw (Southampton), Chris Smalling (Man Utd)
GOALKEEPERS (3): Joe Hart (Manchester City), Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion), Fraser Forster (Celtic)
STANDBY (7): John Ruddy (Norwich City), Jon Flanagan (Liverpool), John Stones (Everton), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Andy Carroll (West Ham United), Jermain Defoe (Toronto FC).
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What do you think of England’s squad? Who did Hodgson leave off that he should go to Brazil? Who would you cut?
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