Bridge makes the grade

Even this morning certain pundits were dropping Bridge from the squad. Of course being a pundit requires little in the way of actual knowledge about the game or the form players. The good news was that Eriksson knows his mind and is aware that he has the best English left back in Bridge.

The squad in full: Seaman (Arsenal), Martyn (Leeds), James (West Ham), Ferdinand (Leeds), Campbell (Arsenal), Southgate (Middlesbrough), Ashley Cole (Arsenal), Bridge (Southampton), Mills (Leeds), Brown (Man Utd), Keown (Arsenal), Beckham (Man Utd), Scholes (Man Utd), Gerrard (Liverpool), Dyer (Newcastle), Butt (Man Utd), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Joe Cole (West Ham), Owen (Liverpool), Heskey (Liverpool), Vassell (Aston Villa), Fowler (Leeds), Sheringham (Tottenham). On standby: Murphy (Liverpool)

Eriksson told the FA's website: "We have some difficult matches but an extremely exciting time ahead of us.

"I am happy to name this squad and I'm looking forward to meeting up with the players on Monday."