WORLD CUP 2002/England Squad: If the squad Sven-Goran Eriksson announced contained minimum drama in terms of surprises, it can hardly have been a shock to those he has left behind.
Ultimately it seems Eriksson chose Anfield on Wednesday night, instead of Old Trafford, to check on Liverpool's Jamie Carragher and Danny Murphy rather than Blackburn Rovers' Matt Jansen. None of the three made the squad, though at least Murphy has the consolation/anxiety of being on standby.
Carragher, Eriksson revealed, requires knee surgery, thereby providing a rational explanation for possibly the most unexpected omission. The Liverpudlian had come on for Gary Neville in England's most recent game, the friendly with Paraguay at Anfield three and a half weeks ago, and when Neville suffered his metatarsal injury soon afterwards it would have been only natural for Carragher to think that one man's injury was another's opportunity.
But the Liverpool midfielder has sustained an injury of his own and Danny Mills and Wes Brown have been the beneficiaries.
Eriksson said he had taken the time to telephone those he thought would be genuinely disappointed by their omission yesterday - so Ray Parlour, Graeme Le Saux and Darren Anderton will not have expected a call - which presumably meant the coach did dial Phil Neville's mobile number.
This will have been the hardest call to make. Four years ago Neville was told by Glenn Hoddle he was not needed in France and he had to be escorted off the premises in tears by his elder brother. But he has been in every squad Eriksson has named, when fit. Until now.
"I feel sorry for a lot of players," Eriksson said. "They have been working hard and had good seasons and helped us qualify, but I've had to phone them and leave messages. You don't want to do that in life."
Eriksson refused to divulge those to whom he had chosen to break the news personally, but one he did mention by name was Steve McManaman. He did not say how the news had been received but it showed their relationship was closer than some people thought.
McManaman refused to speak at Real Madrid's training ground yesterday but his colleagues expressed their consternation. "I'm very surprised," said Roberto Carlos. "I wasn't expecting this. He's a top-quality guy as well as a top-quality player." Zinedine Zidane agreed: "I'm very disappointed for him."
McManaman, Le Saux and Anderton are veterans of France '98 but Ugo Ehiogu, Frank Lampard and Trevor Sinclair have had no such experience and, judging by Sinclair's reaction, were realistic about missing the squad.
"I found out after training this morning," Sinclair said. "We were looking at teletext in the manager's office and it wasn't a massive surprise, to be honest. I had a few caps and I gave it everything on and off the pitch but it just wasn't quite good enough.
"I have not quite made the impact I could have, although it is difficult to make that grade - everyone there is a good athlete and all quick in the mind. To make a telling contribution at international level is more difficult than it is in the Premiership."
But he and former club-mate Frank Lampard must have felt a breeze of disappointment as Joe Cole and Owen Hargreaves swept past them against Paraguay. Jansen, who would have won his first cap then but for an upset stomach, should be soothed by the fact he came so close.
Jansen's striking partner at Blackburn, Andy Cole reacted to his exclusion by announcing his international retirement.
As for Nicky Barmby - whatever happened to him? The man who started on the left in the 5-1 win in Munich last September ended up being just AN Other of those left behind.
