Messi stunned England left Arsenal winger Walcott at home
05.07.10 | tribalfootball.com
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Barcelona star Lionel Messi was shocked that England did not include Arsenal winger Theo Walcott in their squad.
Walcott was expected to make the plane to South Africa but was left at home.
The decision came despite the fact that the 21-year-old became the youngest player to score a hat-trick for England against Croatia in 2008.
And Messi points to last season's Champions League clash between Arsenal and Barcelona as another match where Walcott had a major impact.
"I must say that at the time I thought it was a bad decision to leave Theo Walcott at home," he told the Daily Star.
"And I think that has been proved right. I can only speak from experience but he was one of the most dangerous players I have ever played against.
"Barcelona players are not scared easily but I can tell you that when we played Arsenal last season he truly worried us.
"When we were playing Arsenal at the Emirates we were so in control of the game at 2-0, with all respect Arsenal were not even in the game.
"Then Theo came on and changed the game. He pretty much single-handedly salvaged a draw against Barcelona that night.
"Even in the return leg our manager Pep Guardiola was telling us he was the player to watch out for. And the best players in the world like Xavi and Gerard Pique were telling us to watch out for him. The truth is that he really rattled him.
"If he could do that against Barcelona, think what he could have done against Germany and Algeria. Even if he didn't start, he would still have been very important for England.
"Along with Cesc Fabregas and Sergio Aguero he would have been the best impact player at the World Cup."
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