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Roy Hodgson named the England squad for Euro 2012 today.  He has started off with a bang to say the least.

From the morning papers we knew that Rio Ferdinand had his England career ended by Roy Hodgson last night but we still had lots of questions that needed answering today. Would John Terry get the nod? Was Paul Scholes in line for a shock recall and who would go up front with the suspended Wayne Rooney?

Well Hodgson was full of answers today, and he threw in a few surprises to boot. The shocks started at the back with uncapped Norwich stopper John Ruddy going as third keeper behind Joe Hart and Rob Green.

Chelsea captain John Terry will go to Ukraine, despite the court case over his alleged racist attack on Anton Ferdinand hanging over him. As rumoured, Micah Richards was also dropped, so Glen Johnson will be England’s starting right-full back.

In midfield, Scholes did not make a dramatic comeback but the older heads of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Gareth Barry are joined by the young legs of Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Club mate Theo Walcott goes too, as does Liverpool’s Stewart Downing, somewhat of a surprise after a poor debut season at Liverpool. Scott Parker is also included but his injury is still not healed, so he has to be a doubt to actually make the plane.

Up front, Hodgson has selected just four strikers, and with Wayne Rooney suspended for two games, Danny Welbeck, Andy Carroll and Jermain Defoe will all have a great chance of starting. As you will have spotted, Peter Crouch failed to make the cut too.

Does that hint at a 4-5-1 line-up for England? Who knows. There are also a few players named on standby, with Jordan Henderson a likely call up if Parker doesn’t make it.

Anyway, not long to go now for the Euros. Hodgson has certainly made it interesting and we note that #Hodgsonout is already trending on Twitter. Poor old Roy.

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Man City), Rob Green (West Ham), John Ruddy (Norwich)

Defenders: Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Man United), John Terry (Chelsea), Joleon Lescott (Man City), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Leighton Baines (Everton)

Midfielders: Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Man City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Scott Parker (Tottenham), Ashley Young (Man United), James Milner (Man City)

Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Man United), Danny Welbeck (Man United), Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham)

Standby players: Jack Butland (Birmingham City), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea).

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