What we make of Andros Townsend, Jack Wilshere and Marcus Rashford's inclusion, plus Phil Jagielka and Theo Walcott's exclusion
Danny Welbeck’s absence is more significant than expected
He has neither the momentum of Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy, nor the scoring prowess of Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge.
Yet Welbeck, who would have been a certain starter had he not suffered the cruel knee injury that will keep him out for the next nine months, is perhaps the hardest of the four to replace.
The reason? He is fast, intelligent in possession and disciplined when out of it.
Andros Townsend, the player most likely to replace the Arsenal forward in the final 23-man squad, has only one of those attributes and will barely feature.
The difficulty in finding someone who can do Welbeck’s duties on the left of his favoured 4-3-3 might just convince Hodgson to switch to a diamond 4-4-2 that features Kane and Vardy in attack with Rooney deeper.
Jack Wilshere’s selection is justified
Will he be at his best for the Euros? Obviously not.
That will be impossible for a player who has made just one start and two substitute appearances since June.
Wilshere was lethargic against Aston Villa on Sunday, but the hour or so he enjoyed at Manchester City the week before showed he can make a valuable contribution this summer.
The 24-year-old has done what Hodgson required of him – which was to prove his physical well-being by season’s end – and warrants his place.
Wilshere – with the exception of Dele Alli – remains the country’s most gifted midfielder.
England are very vulnerable in defence
The decision to take seven defenders is more down to the paucity of options available to Hodgson, rather than any daring on the manager’s behalf.
Jagielka has been troubled by his hamstring for a while now and, unlike Wilshere, is not important enough to take a chance on.
So with no potential replacements worth considering, England will take three specialist centre-backs to a major tournament for the first time since Euro ’88.
A risk worth taking? Probably. As long as nothing happens to Chis Smalling.
A partnership of the struggling Gary Cahill and even more so John Stones cannot be relied upon to end 50 years of hurt.
Theo Walcott is, quite rightly, in the wilderness
“I am of course disappointed not to make the squad,” wrote Walcott on Twitter shortly after the FA announced the 26-man party.
It might be because his message was not accompanied by that red emoji with the angry face, but he did not seem too disappointed.
This is the problem with Walcott. It is not that he does not have the brain to be a footballer – the go-to criticism for much of his early career – it is that he does not have the heart.
This omission has been coming for a while now, yet the 27-year-old – who should be in the prime of his career – has let his season limp to a feeble end without showing any resolve to change the inevitable outcome.
Selection of Marcus is not, ahem, Rash
The selection of an 18-year-old who has played just 16 senior matches in his career has understandably riled some members of the big-club-bias brigade.
Andy Carroll, Jermain Defoe and Troy Deeney have their respective supporters beyond their own family and friends and the trio have all enjoyed excellent seasons.
But the Manchester United striker has shown that he has the raw materials to perform at the highest level. Not just through his seven goals, but his clever interplay and temperament also.
Rashford is also humble enough to accept that his position in the 26-man party is mainly to be an extra body in training.
If he does that cheerfully, then he might even nab a 20-minute cameo against Australia before heading off for a well-deserved holiday.
Anything else is a bonus.
READ: Seat on the train? The England squad we believe Roy Hodgson will take to Euro 2016
