Roy Hodgson has named his 23-man England World Cup squad ahead of the June 12 tournament, choosing four strikers but leaving out West Ham’s Andy Carroll.

Wayne Rooney will be the leading frontman, with Daniel Sturridge, Danny Welbeck and Southampton’s Rickie Lambert in support.

Frank Lampard at 35 makes the cut, but otherwise there is a youthful look about England's midfield selection.

Ross Barkley, 20, has been selected, alongside Liverpool teenager Raheem Sterling.

Arsenal duo Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jack Wilshere are in the 23 despite their recent injury concerns.

Adam Lallana, who has three caps, has been rewarded for a fine year with Southampton by being included.

James Milner also is favoured ahead of the likes of Adam Johnson and Ashley Young - neither of whom made the squad or standby list.

There were no surprises in defence.

Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling were Hodgson's four centre-halves.

Leighton Baines goes to Brazil as first-choice left-back, with teenage left-back Luke Shaw in reserve, replacing Ashley Cole, who retired from international football on Sunday night after being told he had not made the squad.

Glen Johnson goes to the tournament as England's only recognised right-back.

Hodgson selected Fraser Forster as third goalkeeper behind Joe Hart and Ben Foster.

There was a place on the standby list for Everton teenager John Stones, who only made his first Premier League start in January.

Uncapped Liverpool right-back Jon Flanagan was also on the standby list.

Those standby players will fly to Portugal with the squad next Monday for a week-long training camp.

Hodgson admitted the decision to leave out Ashley Cole was "an unbelievably hard" call.

"Ashley is a player that I and the rest of my staff appreciate," he said.

"He is a magnificent player and what he's done for England is second to none. Luke Shaw has had a wonderful season. He has captured headlines with his form and ability.

"One player has 107 caps and one has many caps to come. It was a hard job to ring Ashley and I can only be unbelievably grateful for the gracious way he accepted the decision.

"Circumstances will prove whether the decision to take the younger player was the right one or not."

While Hodgson's selection is notable for its youthful appearance, Chelsea's veteran midfielder Lampard - who turns 36 in June - has made the cut and will feature at his third World Cup.

"Frank is a very important part of our set-up and you shouldn't think about players in terms of age, but of position," Hodgson added.

"When you're in midfield you have many more positions to choose from.

"Frank has been captain on many occasions and has been vice-captain to Steven Gerrard.

"He still plays an important role for his club and we think his leadership qualities and his abilities will help us in the summer."

The inexperience of the England squad's newest members - including Sterling of Liverpool, who lost his place towards the end of the qualifying campaign - will not pose a problem in Brazil, according to Hodgson.

He added: "You get experience by getting the opportunity.

"It's wrong to focus totally on the fact there are those who are inexperienced because everyone is inexperienced until they get the chance to do the job.

"I think they've played so well and been so effective in their club teams that they've really imposed their ability on my thinking.

"I'm sure if I'd picked a squad after the final qualifier in October it would have looked quite different but a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then.

"You can't ignore what people are doing on a week-to-week basis and your decision is based on who is the best man for the job.

"In October I didn't think Raheem Sterling was having the impact he has had since."

Some Tweets!