Back in 2006, Sven Goran Eriksson was forced to defend his sanity to the British media after his decision to include Theo Walcott in England’s World Cup squad.
The Swedish coach opted to plump for Walcott—then aged 17 years and 53 days—ahead of Jermain Defoe, a decision that prompted ridicule in the press.
Not only had Walcott never been capped by the Three Lions before receiving a call-up, but he’d never before made a Premier League appearance for Arsenal, and Erkisson sheepishly admitted that he’d never before seen the forward play.
It proved to be a costly decision, particularly as Michael Owen limped out of action during the group stage and an unfit Wayne Rooney saw red against Portugal as England fell in the quarter-finals.