Theo Walcott admits he ought to NOT have gone to the 2006 World Cup at 17 – because the ex-Arsenal winger opens up on greatest ‘disappointment’ from his first main event with England

Theo Walcott has admitted it was flawed for England to select him for the 2006 World Cup when he was solely 17 years of age.

Sven-Goran Eriksson made the shock name to incorporate the then-teenager in his squad, regardless of Walcott having by no means beforehand performed within the Premier League.

And searching again virtually 20 years on, Walcott feels it was not a smart transfer as he was left questioning himself as to why he had been included following intense media scrutiny.

‘While you say it out loud, it isn’t proper. It actually is not,’ Walcott advised Sky Sports activities on Monday evening following West Ham’s 2-0 win over Newcastle. ‘You consider gamers and we nonetheless name them younger at 22, 23.

‘I’ve mentioned this clearly for a few years that I ought to by no means have gone – there have been different gamers that had expertise and had performed on the highest stage and I used to be new to the sport.

He added: ‘All of the circus that got here with it, I did not need to be part of. For me, it was all about enjoying and having fun with my soccer. It was a extremely tough second after I was consoling individuals like John Terry who gained many issues and had many caps for England. And I am a 17-year-old boy who’s pondering I should not even be right here.’

Walcott was picked by Sven-Goran Eriksson regardless of having by no means performed within the Premier League

Walcott mentioned that failing to play a single minute in Germany was a giant ‘disappointment’ for him

Walcott didn’t play a single minute on the event in Germany as England crashed out on the quarter-final stage after shedding on penalties to Portugal.

The previous Arsenal winger revealed that he may have gotten on the pitch in that last-eight conflict however Wayne Rooney getting despatched off scuppered these plans, as Walcott admitted that failing to play was a significant ‘disappointment’ after Eriksson had taken of venture on him.

‘The frustration bit was not truly enjoying,’ Walcott mentioned. 

‘I may need bought on had Waz not bought despatched off however that was the fervour he performed with. It did not work for me in the long run however what I did study from it was that I loved the soccer.’

Walcott went on to affix Arsenal straight after the World Cup and spent 12 years on the Emirates, successful three FA Cups throughout this era.

He additionally earned 47 caps for England however by no means performed at a World Cup, and Jamie Carragher conceded that being thrust into the highlight at an early age hindered Walcott’s improvement.

‘I do not assume it did you any favours as a participant,’ Carragher claimed. ‘Persons are pondering “we have got the following Michael Owen or Pele gained the World Cup at 17” and also you’re pondering “he have to be out of this world, world class, among the best gamers England have ever seen”. 

‘I feel that put undue stress on you by way of your profession.’