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Originally Posted by NBC
I saw something on the Sky Sports wire a week or so ago where Capello said he made a mistake taking Lennon to the World Cup over Walcott. Didn't see the full story, but the headline.
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FABIO CAPELLO last night revealed his biggest World Cup regret - leaving out Arsenal's Theo Walcott.
The England boss admitted he should have picked Walcott rather than Spurs winger Aaron Lennon for South Africa. Capello, who is still considering his squad for the February 9 game with Denmark, said: "I am really happy that Theo is back.
"He is playing how I remember when he started to play with us.
"It was a tough decision leaving Theo out for the World Cup. He played only a few games before the end of the season, but he was not the same player.
"Instead, he played every time with fear in the tackle. He was not able to win back the ball quickly and then when he turned, his movement was not fast, like it is now.
"Even when I decided not to pick him, I still thought he would be a player I would think about after the World Cup, because he could play 25 minutes and be dangerous.
"But I made a mistake not selecting him. He is so fast he can make the difference in every moment. I should have taken him."
Walcott's hat-trick in Croatia was probably the highlight of the Italian's reign as England boss .
And Capello added: "It was a really difficult choice. Lennon was playing very well. Theo was not at the top at that moment.
"I chose Lennon and not Theo for this reason, after the training in Austria and the Japan game.
"Lennon was perfect. He played two games in the World Cup then got injured. Looking back, this is one change I would have made for the World Cup."
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like typical Capello he doesn't make sense, because he ways Lennon was perfect and then got injured
I thought Lennon was terrible at the world cup, but his form going in was excellent, and I don't really blame him for his play because I don't know any RM in the world that would be decent with Glen Johnson behind them
however, in terms of mistakes not taking Walcott is way down the list of things Fabio messed up at the World Cup, constructing an entire plan around Emile Heskey making room for an out of form and injured Wayne Rooney is likely at the top
and also, Lennon was first choice RM, if anything was a mistake it was taking SWP as the backup